The Bookseller.com

6th July 2009

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Sony divulges Reader sales

05.12.08 Katie Coyne

Sony has revealed that it has sold 300,000 of its digital e-book Reader globally since the device was launched in October 2006 and that it is working on a wireless version of the product to rival Amazon.com's Kindle.

So far three million books have been downloaded from its online library, which is home to 57,000 titles. The electronics giant said it planned to grow its online library to 100,000 titles by the end of the year.

Sony also has plans to launch a wireless version of its e-book reader, although the company would not say when this was likely to be. The launch of a wireless device could seriously challenge Amazon’s e-reader wireless device, the Kindle, although this is only available in the US at the moment.

Amazon won’t release sales figures for the Kindle but gadget industry experts widely report that sales of Kindle and Sony Reader Book are running neck and neck.

Jon Howells, Waterstones spokesperson, said he couldn’t supply an actual figure on how many of the Sony readers the store had sold, but helpfully stated "many, many thousands". He added: "We are really, really pleased with the success, it’s been fabulous and way beyond expectations."

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