On September 7, Tom Barlow reported that Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) would be manufacturing an e-book reader, reportedly tagged the Kindle (perhaps to "rekindle" interest in this technology that hasn't quite caught on?). It competes with the Sony (NYSE: SNE) reader in that it presents the e-book text in a new, crisp format, without reliance on backlighting that can be unfriendly to a bookworm's eyes.
On Monday, AMZN evidently plans to introduce the Kindle, and those in e-book publishing hope the device's launch will lift interest in the format. Arthur Klebanoff, co-founder and CEO of e-book publisher Rosetta Books LLC told The Wall Street Journal that e-book sales in the U.S. likely range between $15 million and $25 million. "By any scenario it's very small," he noted, "but Amazon's entrance is very significant ... this is about trying to change consumer habits."
According to an article on CNET, the device is expected to be priced in the $400 to $500 range and will have the ability to wirelessly connect to an e-book store on Amazon.com. Perfect for when you're on vacation and run out of reading material.
Amazon already sells digital downloads through its music and movies store; the company hopes that introducing its own e-reader could spur interest in downloadable books. In effect, the new product represents an effort from Amazon to return to its roots; books, after all, were the first thing AMZN ever sold.
On Monday, AMZN evidently plans to introduce the Kindle, and those in e-book publishing hope the device's launch will lift interest in the format. Arthur Klebanoff, co-founder and CEO of e-book publisher Rosetta Books LLC told The Wall Street Journal that e-book sales in the U.S. likely range between $15 million and $25 million. "By any scenario it's very small," he noted, "but Amazon's entrance is very significant ... this is about trying to change consumer habits."
According to an article on CNET, the device is expected to be priced in the $400 to $500 range and will have the ability to wirelessly connect to an e-book store on Amazon.com. Perfect for when you're on vacation and run out of reading material.
Amazon already sells digital downloads through its music and movies store; the company hopes that introducing its own e-reader could spur interest in downloadable books. In effect, the new product represents an effort from Amazon to return to its roots; books, after all, were the first thing AMZN ever sold.
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