Amazon today announced that it is dropping the price of its basic Kindle e-Book reader from $299 to $259 and also partnering with AT&T to introduce a new version offering global wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories. The new global version is priced at $279 and will begin shipping on October 19th.
Kindle wirelessly downloads books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution 6-inch electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper. Kindle utilizes the same 3G wireless technology as advanced cell phones, so you never need to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot or sync with a PC. Readers can wirelessly shop the Kindle Store, download books in less than 60 seconds, automatically receive newspaper and magazine subscriptions, receive personal documents, and read from their library -- now in over 100 countries and territories.
The new version will also enable Amazon to offer the Kindle for sale in over 100 countries. The international Kindle Store catalog will offer over 200,000 books, slightly more than half the number currently available on the U.S. store.
Apple's much-anticipated tablet computer has been claimed to be focusing on e-Book capabilities, but described as attempting to redefine print media into an interactive experience not currently possible through dedicated e-Book readers such as Amazon's Kindle.
