Amazon's Kindle comes to Oz

By Suzanne Tindal on 07 October 2009

Amazon's hyped e-reader Kindle is coming to Australia, with plans for the device to begin shipping on 19 October.

The Kindle
(Credit: CBS Interactive)

Until now, the popular e-reader has only been available to customers in the US. Now, however, the Kindle is being sold in countries across the globe.

International readers, including those from Australia can pre-order the device on this site. The price for the international Kindle sits at US$279. A spokesperson for the company said that there would likely be an Australian price but it had not been released as yet.

The reader can either download books via USB or by 3G or 2G wireless, without any mobile contracts. To operate in Australia the company will likely have done a deal with an Australian carrier for use of its 3G network, but the spokesperson could not give any information on which carrier had been selected.

A spokesperson for VHA said it hadn't signed a deal with the bookseller. Telstra has yet to respond to queries. Optus said it "had nothing to confirm". On the site, however, it is possible to check wireless coverage that the device will access, which seems to be quite extensive.

The coverage
(Credit: CBS Interactive)

The device weighs around a third of a kilo and is 203.2mm by 134.6mm by 9.1mm. It has 2GB internal storage, with around 1.4GB available for user content, which Amazon says will store up to 1500 books. With one charge, the reader will operate for up to four days.

The reader can download books from leading publishers such as Penguin in less than 60 seconds according to Amazon, as well as automatically receiving newspaper and magazine subscriptions. It also has the ability to read other document formats such as PDF.

According to our colleagues at our sister site CNET.com, the Amazon Kindle is not perfect, but its built-in wireless capabilities and user-friendly interface keep it atop the e-book reader heap in the US. Read their full review of the device here.

Topics: kindle, amazon, australia, ship, e-reader

Related Articles

Comments (14)

  • FridaynightFurlosophy commented on 23/11/2009 19:49

    A friend and I covered some of the Pro's and Con's of this device. Sure wish I had seen this article before presenting my arguments!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEACwBn1udI

  • Kindle Lover commented on 08/11/2009 23:08

    I have had the kindle for a couple of weeks now and you guys need to read some forums for help on accessing books. I dont have good eyesight but find the kindle very easy to read. The screen is not horrible and why should it be touchable to navigate? I reckon some are just jealous.

  • Shane commented on 25/10/2009 22:31

    Got mine a few days ago - very high expectations!! But its like being allowed into the biggest bookshop in the world, and everything's labelled, "not available in Australia"!!! Bumma.

  • Robbie commented on 21/10/2009 07:09

    Very nice device, that Kindle. But were do I buy Australian books.
    I rather stick to my bebook as the bebook read all files so I can read books from Australian resellers and also put my own stuff on there.

  • Anthony commented on 21/10/2009 06:52

    Why would you buy a device which only allows you to buy proprietary books, if it crashes or you don't like it anymore you loose all the books!
    Love my BeBook, where i can shop around for ebooks, or just download for free.

  • db commented on 09/10/2009 03:48

    I followed the link in the above article. Thanks.

  • Jeremy commented on 08/10/2009 13:14

    db, did you try the Australia specific link?

    http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-International-Generation-charging-Australia/dp/B000GF7ZRA

  • zaphod commented on 08/10/2009 11:08

    I have used a kindle for a year now and given the choice between a paperback and the kindle I choose the kindle. People seem to make comparisons to products it is not competing with. You compare it to other ereaders or a paperback. When was the last time you read a complete novel on a pc, pda, or iphone.The kindle does for the paperback what the word processor did to the typewriter

  • db commented on 07/10/2009 19:48

    I just tried to order one. "Cannot be shipped to this address"

  • Roedy Green commented on 07/10/2009 18:57

    see http://mindprod.com/bgloss/kindle.html for information I have collected from a number of sources on the Kindle.
    I don't own one.

Post your own comment

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 and A..F

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 & A..F

Submit

Enter your personal information to the left, or sign in with your Facebook account by clicking the button below.

Connect

The Explain Series

Must read

Popular Phones & Plans

Powered by WhistleOut

1) Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB30 plans 1%
2) Nokia N9743 plans 5%
3) HTC Magic16 plans 1%
4) Nokia E7149 plans 1%
5) Apple iPhone 8GB42 plans 1%
« 1 of »
1) Apple mobile phones 1%
2) Nokia mobile phones 3%
3) HTC mobile phones 3%
4) Blackberry mobile phones 2%
5) Sony Ericsson mobile phones 1%

Mobiles | Broadband | Credit Cards

CNET Australia Partner Services