Sony adds wireless e-reader as Kindle rival
SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sony Corp unveiled its first wireless electronic reader, challenging amazon.com Inc’s momentum in the growing digital book market.
At $399, Sony’s “Daily Edition” is $100 more expensive than Amazon’s basic Kindle but it has a 7-inch touch screen and an aluminum body. It will go on sale in December with AT&T providing its 3G wireless Internet service.
After a year of headlines dominated by Amazon’s Kindle reader, Sony has taken the offensive, with the wireless model joining previously announced lower-priced units.
It is unclear which consumers prefer. Amazon does not provide sales figures. In January, Sony disclosed that it had sold 400,000 readers.
Sony previously introduced the “Pocket Edition” for $199 and the “Touch Edition” for $299.
Ross Rubin, a consumer technology analyst with NPD Group, said Sony’s selection of readers at tiered prices was a positive: “Sony is offering consumers the choice,” he said.
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Let the e-book wars begin….