Network operator AT&T announced it would begin selling Amazon’s
bestselling Kindle 3G e-reader in AT&T company-owned retail stores
nationwide beginning March 6. The company will include the Kindle 3G in
its connected devices displays throughout AT&T stores, offering
customers the opportunity to test drive the device onsite.
The Kindle 3G, which connects over WiFi as well as AT&T’s mobile
broadband network, wirelessly downloads books, magazines, newspapers,
blogs and personal documents to a 6-inch, high-resolution electronic
paper display that looks and reads like real paper.
The latest edition of the device boasts the advanced paper-like Pearl E
Ink display that works outside in direct sunlight, storage of up to
3,500 books, up to one month of battery life with the wireless off, no
monthly wireless fees or annual contracts, and light weight design. The
Kindle 3G is priced at $189.
"Amazon has without question pioneered the eReader space with Kindle,
and it’s exciting to not only connect this device through our network,
but now offer it in our stores to readers around the country," said
Glenn Lurie, president of emerging devices for AT&T. "As the first
dedicated eReader offered in our stores, we are confident the Kindle
will be an attractive addition to our in store connected devices
lineup."
The Kindle offers a large selection of reading materials, and the
Kindle Store now has more than 810,000 books, including new releases
and 107 of 111 New York Times Best Sellers. Over 670,000 of these books
are $9.99 or less, including 79 New York Times Best Sellers. Kindle
lets you "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" – on Kindle as well as on free
Kindle apps for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, Windows
Phone and Android-based devices.
In addition, Amazon’s Whispersync technology saves and synchronizes the
Kindle library of books, bookmarks, last page read, highlights and
annotations across all of a user’s Kindles and Kindle apps so they
don’t lose their place or are without their reading.
A recent Yankee Group forecast predicted global e-reader sales revenue
would grow from just $1.9 billion in 2010 to $8.2 billion in 2014,
while unit sales would rise from just under 11 million in 2010 to
nearly 72 million in 2014. By 2014, the average retail price for an
e-reader device would be $114, down from an average of $182 in 2010,
according to the research firm’s report.