Ingram purchases electronic publishing company

Ingram, the nation's largest book wholesaler, has acquired Vital Source Technologies, a company which according to PW "develops software that allows publishers to publish book content in a variety of electronic formats."

Ingram plays a vital role in the retail process, and therefore is a key partner for publishers. They act as an intermediary who gets books into the hands of retailers, supplying independent bookstores and also the chains when their supplies run low.

Given this purchase, I would guess that Ingram is looking to position itself for the digital distribution of content, as well. It's yet another sign about the way the industry believes technology -- and reading habits -- are headed.