When I’ve posted my rave reviews of Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader (a device I use nearly as much as my computer), LGF readers in other countries have plaintively complained that it isn’t available outside the US — especially, in Canada and Britain. Well, there’s no word on Canadian availability yet, but Mobile Today reports that Amazon is close to announcing a launch date for the British version.

The British version will apparently include WiFi capability — a feature the US version doesn’t have.

Amazon is close to finalising a launch date for its ‘Kindle’ electronic book reader in the UK and is in advanced negotiations with a mobile operator for an MVNO, Mobile  understands.

The online retail giant has made a major play for ebooks to protect the business against the likes of Apple and Google disrupting the traditional book market.

Amazon is understood to have outsourced all aspects of manufacturing for the Kindle in the UK to Qualcomm, including securing ‘connectivity’ with a mobile operator in the UK.

The retailer wants customers to be able to download books through PCs or over Wi-Fi, but also to have the option to regularly download newspapers, magazines and journals while on the move, via a mobile network.