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Amazon's Kindle finally to launch in the UK?

by Tarinder Sandhu on 2 October 2009, 10:40

Tags: Kindle reader, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)

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James Sherwood, of Reghardware, writes:

Amazon will finally launch its Kindle e-book viewer in Blighty next week, multiple sources have claimed.

“The rumours I’ve heard are all saying next week,” one source told trade bible The Bookseller.

E-book publishers have reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements with Amazon, another source said. He or she also claimed to have heard news about next week’s launch “from multiple sources”.

Kindle is currently only available to buy in North America, but Amazon has always promised to launch the e-book viewer internationally. However, the retailer has never committed itself to a rollout timeframe.

But one question remains: which UK network operator will Amazon sign to provide access to Whispernet, Kindle’s e-book download service.

Whispernet runs over Sprint’s EvDO network in the US, but since Vodafone has already been running a basic e-book business - Books on Mobile! – since October 2008, the operator could be a natural choice for Whispernet in the UK.

O2, on the other hand, surely won’t want to miss out on signing its name to yet another headline-grabbing product, especially now its iPhone exclusivity period is nearing its end.



HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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It doesn't really matter which operator signs up to be UK Kindle's Whispernet. The whole point about it is that the user doesn't know and doesn't care which mobile network it is using, it just works. The content is delivered (and sometimes removed!) without user intervention.
Why, oh why, can't we just have a netbook tablet (with keyboard) and an e-reader all rolled into one. That would be my ideal, cause I want it all! Now gimme!
In the US, yeah, the Sprint side of things is hardly front and centre, but knowing the way mobile companies work over here they're probably trying to brand it as the “ORANGE/O2/WHATEVER” Amazon Kindle and charge a monthly fee for the connection…
Revilgo
Why, oh why, can't we just have a netbook tablet (with keyboard) and an e-reader all rolled into one. That would be my ideal, cause I want it all! Now gimme!
Because ereaders have very long battery life due to the screen. These screens are terrible for regular laptop use.

It's an electronic book, not a restricted laptop :)
I'm leaning towards the Astak 5" e-book reader - http://www.theezreader.com/

It looks rather much more like the device for me.