Abstract: A system and method for the purchase, downloading and opening of digital content, which is accomplished with one or two gestures, e.g., button or taps. Digital content items are displayed on the user's local device along with a button, i.e., a “Buy” button that can be selected to purchase a particular item of content. The user taps, clicks, or selects the “Buy” button to initiate the purchase, downloading and opening of the content. The instruction to purchase the content is transmitted to the remote server, which completes the purchase transaction and begins the download of the purchased content. Included with the downloaded content, preferably as parameters or metadata, is an indication of which reader application is required to open and read the digital content. When the download to the user's local device is completed, it uses these parameters to automatically launch the appropriate reader and automatically open the purchased, downloaded content, without any action required by the user.