AT&T stores to carry Amazon's Kindle 3G

Reuters:

AT&T will begin carrying online retailer Amazon.com Inc's market-leading Kindle electronic reader next week, expanding the device's availability in stores.

AT&T said it would start selling the Kindle 3G at its stores across the United States beginning on Sunday and feature it in its device displays.

Amazon, whose Kindle competes with Barnes & Noble Inc's Nook and Apple Inc's iPad, has been trying to make the Kindle more widely available for sale beyond its own web site on the assumption shoppers prefer to try e-readers before buying them.

Last year, office supplies retailer Staples Inc, discount chain Target Corp and Best Buy Co Inc all started carrying the Kindle.

Forrester Research estimated in December that about 6 million Kindles had been sold at that point since its launch in 2007, far ahead of the Nook and other devices.

Target Gets iPad October 3

Electronista: "The move expands the iPad's distribution at a critical point in the holidays but also puts Apple into more direct competition with the Amazon Kindle. Target was the first retail presence for Amazon, which is new to retail and is only just reaching Best Buy at an undefined point in the fall. The new deal gives the rivals closer retail overlap."

Rumor: iPad Headed to Target on October 3rd

Engadget: "It's not quite the definitive proof that some boxes spotted in the wild would be, but a tipster has sent us a few pieces of a puzzle that seem to suggest that Apple could be expanding the iPad's retail presence into Target stores just in time for the holiday shopping season. That includes a list featuring a mysteriously unnamed product that's set to become available on October 3rd (in six different versions, no less), and a series of images from a Target PDA ... that seemingly show that the item numbers match the iPad prices exactly, and that it will be located in the Digital Audio section -- that's apparently also how e-readers like the Kindle are classified, in addition to iPods. Smoking gun? Not exactly, but it's certainly enough to get us to keep our eye on this one."

Best Buy to Sell Kindle E-Reader

WSJ.com: "Best Buy said the Kindle with built-in Wi-Fi and Kindle 3G will be available in the fall, with the Kindle DX model being added later on. The retailer also is the exclusive retail partner for Barnes & Noble Inc.'s Nook e-reader and carries several of Sony Corp.'s e-reader models. Last week, Staples Inc. also said it plans to sell Amazon's Kindle at its stores this fall. The Kindle also will be available through other retailers including Target Corp."

Borders Lowers Prices on Kobo and Aluratek Libre e-Readers/Target to Begin Selling Kindle

TheStreet: "After a brief cessation of hostilities, Borders(BGP) is again reigniting the e-reader price wars, lowering the cost on two of its devices. Borders announced Tuesday that it will lower the price on its Kobo e-reader to $129.99 from $149.99, while its Aluratek Libre reader will now be sold for $99.99 from $119.99. ... Elsewhere in the e-reader world, Staples (SPLS) announced today that it will begin selling Amazon's Kindle in stores this fall. Currently, Target (TGT) also carries the device."

Kindle To Be Sold Through Target Stores Starting Sunday

I suppose with the Nook being available at B/N brick-and-mortar stores, and the iPad being retailed from Apple stores and other electronics outlets, Amazon thought they needed a brick-and-mortar retail sales option as well. I guess this makes sense. And the people at Target say they experienced an "overwhelmingly positive" response to the Kindle when it was sales tested in 104 of their locations. Price is $259, the same as with a direct order through Amazon. Check the Boston Globe coverage.