Random House, the world’s largest book publisher by sales, could keep its books from the iPad “as the Bertelsmann unit fears the effects of the tablet device on the pricing of electronic books,” reports “The Financial Times” (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d11b5fc-36b9-11df-b810-00144feabdc0.html),

Random House’s five big rivals — Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Harper-Collins and Penguin — have reportedly agreed to bring the iPad. Markus Dohle, Random House chief executive, hasn’t excluded the possibility of doing the same, but said he was treading carefully, as Apple’s pricing regime could erode established publishing practices. Dohle told the “Financial Times” that the iPad spelled “changes, in particular for our stakeholders”, which would require the publisher to consult further with its authors and their agents.

The iPad will come with an iBookstore app. will feature books from major and independent publishers. The free iBooks app lets you buy books from the iBookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading.