Today Amazon is introducing two new Kindles. A WiFi-only version costs $139, and a $189 3G version (utilizing AT&T’s network, just like the last model) now includes WiFi. Amazon will begin taking orders Thursday and the new models will begin shipping Aug. 27 to customers in 140 countries.
The units are 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter, with a 20 percent faster refresh rate on its E Ink screen. The screen remains the same 6-inch size as the last two Kindles, though the company claims page turns are faster and contrast is improved. The internal storage on the device is now 4GB, and the battery life is now rated at a month with no wireless, and 10 days with wireless switched on. The company also announced plans for a UK-localized version at £109 and £149, respectively, as well as a UK e-book store.
The keyboard and five-way controls have been streamlined and altered slightly. New software features include an “experimental” Webkit-based browser. “I like building a purpose-built reading device. I think that is where we can make a real contribution,” said Jeff Bezos in the Wall Street Journal.
Today’s digital reading market is larger and more competitive than it was when Amazon unveiled the current generation of Kindle 17 months ago. The First Generation Kindle was released only in the United States on November 19, 2007. Although Amazon releases no sales figures, many analysts believe Amazon has sold over 3 billion units over the last 2.5 years. Apple’s iPad is believed to has sold about the same number of units — in 2.5 months.
Analysts estimate Amazon still is the largest player in the market, but it now includes rivals like Barnes & Noble Inc.’s Nook, which has waged a battle with Amazon over prices. On the high end of the market, Amazon must compete with multi-purpose tablet computers, in particular Apple’s $499+ iPad, which comes with Apple’s competing iBookstore.
In June, Barnes & Noble lowered the price of its Nook to $199, and Amazon lowered the price of the Kindle to $189 just hours later. The WiFi-only Nook is $149. Barnes & Noble released a Nook for Android application, competing with similar Android/iPhone/iPad apps released from Amazon.
Major e-book retailers include Amazon (with their Kindle and their ebook store), Barnes & Noble (with their Nook eReader and their ebook store), and Apple (with their iPad and their ebook store). Google is expected to enter the market later this year.
ABI estimates about 11 million tablets will ship by the end of 2010. Over the next 5 years, Wi-Fi-enabled devices will go from over 500 million in 2009 to nearly 2 billion in 2014, according to In-Stat.
Related e-book articles on Dailywireless include; iPad Subscription Model Rejected?, $150 Android Tablet, 2010: 11 Million Tablets, Kindle Books Outsell Hardcovers, Tablets To Cannibalize Netbooks?, Sony Cuts E-Reader Cost, Kindle’s 70% Solution, Google: King of all Media?, WiFi Nook: $149, Free Download for iOS 4 Ready , Starbucks: Free WiFi + Free Content, Kindle Announces 70% Royalty Option, Media’s Primordial Soup: Tablets, Scribd Does HTML 5 Magazines, Tablets, Tablets, Tablets, E-Magazines: Pay Once, Play Anywhere, The $99 Android Tablet, Barnes & Noble: Self Publishing this Summer, Apple Sells 1M iPads, Google Editions: World’s Largest Virtual Bookstore?, Google Tablet for Verizon?, Android Outsells Apple, Flash Support in Android 2.2, Battle of the eBooks, Dell Android Tablet for AT&T/T-Mobile?, Google Tablet: Android or What?, and Tablet Revolution!
