• The Wall Street Journal, Monday, January 3, 2011 1:36 PM

Directly challenging Apple, Google is reportedly planning a digital newsstand for Android users. As The Wall Street Journal reports, the two companies are competing "to become the dominant distributor of newspapers and magazines for tablet computers and other mobile devices." Google's e-newsstand is expected to include apps from media companies offering versions of their publications for smartphones or tablets running Android.

"Google hopes to launch it in part to provide a more consistent experience for consumers who want to read periodicals on Android devices, and to help publishers collect payment for their apps," The Journal reports, citing unnamed sources. On the publisher side, however, sources say that planning for Google's newsstand is still in its early stages, and might never get off the ground. Publishers already contacted about the service reportedly include Time Inc., Condé Nast and Hearst Corp.

Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal »