The price of the best selling Amazon Kindle fell, by 13%, the result of a new release needing promotion. This top seller is the 6 inch diagonal screen version with US wireless coverage.
The company said it was excited about introducing a new member of it’s family of wireless reading devices: Kindle with U.S. and International Wireless. Unfortunately, it is not ready to ship today, but in two weeks, not too long a wait, and probably enough to create a rush in orders.
The latest member of the Kindle family still has the six inch screen but also works internationally. The drop in price from $299 to $259 will be welcomed by those who have been waiting for a price drop, but the International Kindle is vying for a piece of the pie too, with it’s price set at only $20 more, $20 less than the original US-only price.
Of the new model, Amazon says:
With this new Kindle, you can receive your books, newspapers, and magazines wirelessly while at home or abroad in over 100 countries. Whether you’re in New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Beijing, Tokyo, or Sydney, you can think of a book and be reading it in less than 60 seconds.
Kindle wireless is the same 3G wireless technology used in advanced cell phones, so it doesn’t require a Wi-Fi hotspot. The big difference betweek Kindle wireless and cell phone wireless is that there are no monthly wireless bills or yearly contracts. No software installation or syncing are needed.
Both six-inch screen Kindles have an eight inch by 5.3 inch body, thinner than most paperback novels, at .36 of an inch, and weighing in at less than a paperback novel. The electronic-ink screen looks and reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight. The long life battery lasts for four days, with wireless permanently on and up to two weeks with wireless off. Charging is achieved through a wall adapter or USB.
Kindle Books
This version holds up to 1,500 books and the U.S. Kindle Store currently has more than 350,000 available, including over 100 New York Times bestsellers, top newspapers, magazines, and blogs.
The new version will be welcomed by world travelers and the price drop welcomed by all (except those who bought in the past month).