The NOOKcolor doesn't just offer exciting possibilities for  readers, it also opens up new opportunities for developers.

With its Developer Program, Barnes & Noble is inviting content providers and developers to create, market and sell content and applications that "enrich, extend and expand" reading, beginning with the newly unveiled NOOKcolor. 

Built on Android NOOKcolor comes with a full Web browser, free word games and chess, Pandora Internet radio to stream music over Wi-Fi while reading and Quickoffice to view Microsoft Office files.

Barnes & Noble wants developers to build on this framework in a variety of ways:

• Enrich book content with reference material, audio, photos, videos, Web links, plug-ins, and more to help readers get more out of their books.
• Extend book content with applications from cooking to travel to science and nature, helping readers further explore their interests.
• Expand beyond reading with word games, puzzles, and more when it's time to take a break from a favorite book or magazine.

A dedicated portal is to be established for access to an SDK, tools, documentation, product specifications and marketing resources. NOOKdeveloper will also offer developers access to a wide variety of BN.com content and data through Web APIs. Starting in early 2011, developers will be able to submit their applications for sale.

More about the new program and sign up:  www.bn.com/NOOKdeveloper.

More about the NOOKcolor

NOOKcolor e-reader unveiled