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Hi there,

I'm the head the Penguin US Online team, and I'm writing to tell you about an exciting new program that we're launching today on the Penguin US website: Penguin 2.0. We've been working on this project since the summer, and we're proud for it to finally debut.

The purpose of Penguin 2.0 is to make our website the hub for a number of new digital and print-based features, all of which will feature some aspect of a Web 2.0 world. For instance, we'll be offering customization and personalization of Penguin titles, delivery of Web material and content to mobile phones, and original video and electronic content. In mid-2009, we'll offer additional services such as community functionality and aspects of social networking.

Today's launch consists of two new programs:

Penguin Mobile. This consists of a Penguin US iPhone application, as well as an optimized version of our site for Web-enabled mobile phones. You can download the app from iTunes here, or just visit the mobile-optimized site on any Web-enabled mobile phone here.

Penguin Personalized. Via a partnership with SharedBook, Penguin Personalized gives readers the ability to add personal dedications directly into a variety of their favorite books. Each unique book is then individually printed via print-on-demand technology, and sent directly to you. The first title available - just in time for the Holiday season - is the immortal Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. You can visit the Penguin Personalized site here. More Penguin Classics titles will be added early in 2009.

We're also launching, as part of the Penguin US website, a Penguin 2.0 minisite. The minisite can accessed here.

I hope that you enjoy the new program and features. It's all part of a number of changes that we're working on at Penguin. At the same time, as the industry itself goes through a number of changes, we hope to build on our core strengths of promoting great books and influential authors.

Sign up to our newsletter or RSS feed in order to find out when new Penguin features and programs are launched.

And please let us know your thoughts as we develop the Penguin 2.0 program. We very much want your ideas and input. Leave comments for us on our blog, or contact me directly at the e-mail address listed below.

Thanks.

Jeff Gomez
Senior Director, Online Consumer Sales and Marketing
jeff[dot]gomez[at]us[dot]penguingroup[dot]com