Amazon has now officially begun selling the iPad, one of its fiercest rivals in the portable media market, in a move that represents just how powerful each side has in its core business.
Amazon is far and away the most widely used online retailer in the country. And the iPad continues to fly off store shelves. So putting two and two together makes this kind of a no-brainer.
However, it is a little bit weird since Amazon also manufactures its own media device, the Kindle, which used to be the only name in e-readers and has faced mounting pressure from other gadgets including the iPad.
Currently Amazon is only selling the Wi-Fi version of the device, not the 3G versions. It’s available for $599 (32 GB) or $699 (64 GB), the same price as anywhere else that sells the devices.
Amazon has listed the iPad before but it was only available through third-party sellers. The e-tailer did not actually stock or fulfill orders for the device.
The iPad has also been available to purchase from Best Buy as of launch day, and Target just began selling it as well.
Interestingly, the Kindle now also sells directly on Amazon, as well as Best Buy and Target. Perhaps the next move is to get the Kindle on sale at Apple Store locations. Surely that will happen soon, right?
