Amazon is lowering the price of the Kindle to $259, down from $299 and launching a new reader compatible with global wireless networks.
Kindle with US & International Wireless will enable readers to download content wirelessly in over 100 countries and territories. First shipments are slated for October 19, but Amazon is accepting pre-orders at $279 a pop.
“Kindle is the most wished for, the most gifted, and the #1 bestselling product across the millions of items we sell on Amazon, and we’re excited to be able to lower the price,” emotes Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. “We’re also excited to announce a new addition to the Kindle family – Kindle with global wireless. At home or abroad in over 100 countries, you can think of a book and download it wirelessly in less than 60 seconds.”
Kindle wirelessly downloads books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and personal documents to a high-resolution 6-inch electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper and utilizes the same 3G wireless technology as cell phones and can automatically receive newspaper and magazine subscriptions in over 100 countries.
“Kindle has revolutionized the way we purchase and read books, by making it mobile, easy and intuitive,” said Randall Stephenson, chairman and chief executive officer of AT&T. “We are excited to work with Amazon to help readers access books even faster and from significantly more places than ever before, including more than 100 countries and territories around the world through AT&T’s global wireless coverage.”
The Kindle Store now stocks more than 350,000 books and more than 75,000 have been added in the last five months, says Amazon.
US and international newspapers such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Times (UK), Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and the Shanghai Daily are available in the Kindle Store for single purchase or subscription, and can now be delivered wirelessly in over 100 countries.
