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Audioboo, a social platform that allows people to upload, share and comment on sound recordings, has teamed up with the UK's largest audiobook publisher -- the similarly-named AudioGO. The partnership will see the site hosting audiobooks alongside its current library of user-generated content and sound bites from news sources like The Guardian, in some cases featuring bonus content.

Previously known as BBC Audiobooks, AudioGO hosts the Beeb's online library of "soundnovels", with over 10,000 recordings available for download or purchase on CD. It's this collection, which includes classics such as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who,  that will become avaiailable some time later this year. 

The two companies have assured us that listening via Audioboo won't impact pricing -- downloads and CDs will allign with other sources like iTunes or Amazon, with purchases costing anything between £1 and £20. However, additional content such as interviews will be added for some content. Audioboo trialed this approach with Robert Llewellyn's The Man in the Rubber Mask  last year.

One feature that'll likely be welcomed by cautious buyers is a try-before-you-buy feature, allowing listeners to download sample chapters before purchase. This, coupled with the sharing and commenting that's very much the social backbone of Audioboo, should mean users can find new content through recommendations, rather than having to wade through web pages to find a title they like the sound of.

AudioGO MD Mike Bowen said: "Audioboo has been a ground-breaking presence in the spoken word space since its launch, from news and radio content to the newer online publishing model. We believe that the power of audio is a largely untapped resource in this social networking era."

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