The Kobo eReader is an e-reader produced by Toronto-based Kobo Inc. Kobo Inc. originated in December 2009 through a Indigo Books and Music spinoff of their short-lived e-book marketplace, Shortcovers. The original e-reader model was released in May 2010 and was marketed as a minimalist alternative to the more expensive e-book readers available at the time. Like most e-readers, the Kobo uses an electronic ink screen. "Kobo" is an anagram of "book".