Amazon lowers price of e-reader, takes Kindle worldwide

Amazon.com is lowering the price of its Kindle electronic book reader to USD 259, down from USD 299 previously. Amazon.com has also introduced its Kindle with US and International Wireless, an addition to its family of portable reading devices. The Kindle with US and International Wireless now enables readers to wirelessly download content in over 100 countries and territories. The Kindle with US and International Wireless offers a 6-inch electronic ink display and 2 GB of memory to hold up to 1,500 books and Kindle books are automatically backed up by Amazon so customers can re-download titles from their library. With the experimental text-to-speech feature, the Kindle can read most newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud. Amazon's Whispersync technology automatically syncs customers' last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across the Kindle with US and International Wireless, Kindle with US Wireless, Kindle DX, and Kindle compatible devices like Kindle for iPhone. The e-reader lets readers customise reading preference by providing six different text sizes and includes a Qwerty keyboard. Readers can pre-order the Kindle with US and International Wireless for USD 279 at amazon.com/kindle and it will start shipping on 19 October in over 100 countries around the world. The US Kindle Store now has more than 350,000 books, including New Releases and 104 of 112 New York Times Bestsellers, which sell for USD 9.99. The Kindle Store offers international customers over 200,000 English-language books, including new releases and New York Times bestsellers. Over 1,000 different rights-holders now have books available in the Kindle Store and over 85 top US and international newspapers and magazines are also available for single purchase or subscription.