Free from Google, 1.5 million books

Google today launched a free service allowing people to read books on their mobile phones.

The internet firm is offering 1.5 million electronic novels to download, including classics such as Oliver Twist, Emma and The Jungle Book.

It believes the latest generation of phones, which have large colour screens, now make it viable to provide the service. Google said it hoped it would lead to more people reading regularly. The move will see the firm taking on Amazon and Sony, which offer dedicated electronic book readers.

Experts said they expected an online battle for the market.Stuart Miles, of gadget website Pocket Lint, said: "Google has obviously seen how Amazon dominated the online selling of real books, and wants to stop that happening again. By offering free, out-of-copyright books they can instantly offer this huge library.

"Google's approach is also very clever because it is costing them very little, as they don't have to develop their own hardware."

Amazon launched its electronic book reader, called the Kindle, in the US last year, although it has not announced when it will go on sale in the UK.