The bookselling behemoth, Barnes & Noble Inc., is reportedly planning to launch an e-reader during the holiday season next month, a move that will challenge the commanding lead enjoyed by Amazon’s Kindle.
Reports about Barnes & Noble coming up with an e-reader date back to April this year. As per these reports doing the rounds in the media, the bookseller was in talks with Verizon about a partnership, then with Sprint. But as per the recent reports, the upcoming e- reader will tie with AT&T for the wireless network.
Barnes & Noble have not confirmed the rumor. The company’s spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying, "We have made no announcement about an electronic reader…We believe readers should have access to books in their digital library from any device, anywhere and anytime."
Product features
Like its contenders, the e-reader will have a black and white 6-inch display with E-ink screen and a keyboard, and will download books wirelessly from its e-bookstore. The e-reader is also expected to incorporate Google's Android operating system.
No pricing details have been revealed so far, but it is expected to match Kindle’s new low price. Earlier this week Amazon had lowered the price of Kindle by $40 to $259.
Increasing penetration in e-book market
Barnes & Noble had in July unveiled its e-bookstore to allow users to access digitized versions of books on an array of platforms.
Recently, the company also announced its e-book store facility for the upcoming e-readers by Plastic Logic devices and IREX Technologies. It has already released such an application for Apple’s iPhone.
The upcoming e-reader will help Barnes & Noble tap the ever growing e-book market.
According to the report released by Association of American Publishers, e-books sales have totaled to $81.5 million in the first half of this year, up from $29.8 million in the first six months last year.
Readers’ opinion on the upcoming e-reader
Many readers online have taken to forums, blogs etc to discuss the reports of upcoming e-reader.
A reader named Quasar commented on phandroid.com, “This thing could give the Kindle a run for it’s money. That is if the price is low enough and the cost of books is comparable to the Amazon store. I have been tempted to get a Kindle but now I’ll wait and see if this device is better.”
Another reader named jay.viz posted his view on engadget saying, “I would gladly sacrifice compatibility and interoperability for some more competition in the e-book marketplace.”
If the reports about the October e-reader launch are true and the product is good enough, there is no doubt that Barnes & Noble will emerge as a tough contender. The company already has a well established content distribution infrastructure and its stores will help the company expose readers to the device.
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