The Kindle is finally available in Canada, though the electronic reader lacks almost all of the Web-browsing capability available on the U.S. version of the device.
Amazon.com Inc. AMZN-Q launched its popular e-reader to Canadian users yesterday via its website, priced at $259 (U.S) plus shipping. Consumers will be able to purchase and wirelessly download books, magazines and newspapers from Amazon's online store in a few minutes, and store about 1,500 books on the slim e-reader.
The lightweight Kindle comes with what Amazon describes as an “experimental” text-based Web browser. American consumers can use the device to browse wirelessly for free. When Canadian users try to access that service, however, they are met with a message reading, “Due to local restrictions, Web browsing is not available for all countries.”
It's not that the non-U.S. version of the device can't handle websites, as shown by the fact that Canadian users can access the Wikipedia site (though no other). Amazon spokesperson Kinley Campbell said the company hopes to implement the browser in all countries. “As with all of our experimental features, we will continue to work to develop and improve the customer experience.”
It is unclear whether Amazon simply failed to reach a deal with Canadian carriers about providing wireless Web connectivity, or if carriers refused to offer such a service. Nor is it clear which carrier Amazon and AT&T Inc. ATT-N have partnered with in Canada.
Asked which carrier is providing wireless access in Canada, Jay Marine, Amazon's director of product management for Kindle, referred questions to AT&T. It did not return requests for comment.
A spokeswoman for Rogers Communications, AT&T's roaming partner in Canada, would not comment, nor would representatives for Bell Canada and Telus. All three companies offer the kind of network that Kindle runs on.
As a small but growing number of readers migrate from traditional to digital books, companies ranging from Sony to Barnes & Noble are launching their own e-readers. Other booksellers have also launched digital bookstores and book-reading applications for devices such as the iPhone.
Publishers are also reacting to the e-book wave with cautious optimism. Anansi Press in Toronto is making digital versions of a dozen of its older books, and earlier this year offered an e-version of Emily Schultz's Heaven is Small , for free online as a promotion.
Price is a tricky challenge for e-readers, said Matt Williams, an Anansi vice-president. Although there are no printing, warehousing and distribution costs, publishers don't want to severely undercut the important hardcover sector.
Still, Anansi is keen to expand in e-books. “We're enthusiastic about this new way to sell books,” Mr. Williams said.
Book sales in Canada are strong, according to industry tracker BookNet, which has reported that third-quarter results showed a 4-per-cent gain in volume of sales.
“The more formats, the more opportunities for Canadians to read in whatever way they choose, is a benefit to the industry,” said Jamie Broadhurst, vice-president of marketing at Raincoast Books. “This is not a threat, this is an opportunity.”
With files from Virginia Galt and an audio report from Brodie Fenlon
