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Computer company Acer could be the latest business to sell an e-book reader in the UK, after it confirmed a summer European launch for its device. Details about the reader, including its name, price and memory, are vague. The company also refused to reveal which countries the reader will be sold in. According to Bloomberg, the device will have a six-inch monochrome screen and will be launched in up to five European countries in June.
Jim Wong, president of Acer's IT products division, told Bloomberg why it was launching in Europe rather than the United States. He said: "Amazon, Barnes & Noble; they are US-centric. In Western Europe and Asia-Pacific we have publishers to work with, and most of them are content owners."
The report said Acer is speaking to book, magazine and newspaper publishers ahead of the device's launch, without naming any individual companies.
Wong also said Acer was developing a device to compete with Apple's long-awaited Tablet, which is expected to be launched on Wednesday. However, Wong said he would wait until Apple has launched its device before announcing plans for its own.
The computer company is also working on an online applications store. The store will offer hundreds of apps and is likely to launch in the middle of 2010. The apps will be compatible with Google's Android platform as well as Microsoft's Windows and Windows mobile systems. The company will offer "low-cost or free" apps but it is unknown whether an e-book reader will be
among those produced.