AT&T, Verizon looking to join e-book reader market?

by Ross Miller, posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 3:41AM

As far as business relationships go, Amazon and Sprint's Kindle lovechild has proven to be a fruitful endeavor. So it's with little surprise that other manufacturers have been seeking out that same feeling of carrier companionship. According to Verizon Wireless VP of open development Tony Lewis, there are five e-book readers in the works from various companies that are looking to be certified for use on the network, possibly in the same way Kindle uses its connectivity to download books on the fly. While he wouldn't provide any names, he did hint they were looking at segments of the market Kindle isn't currently catering to, such as college textbooks. We've also got word that AT&T's looking to hop on the bandwagon, with head of emerging devices Glenn Lurie chiming in that they want to be a part of that market. If that Whispernet connectivity is the feature that's been tempting you to go Kindle, looks like you'll have a few more options on the horizon, if you're patient.

Verizon Wireless sees Kindle-type e-readers coming

By PETER SVENSSON – 14 hours ago

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Amazon's Kindle might soon be getting new competitors in the market for electronic-book devices.

Tony Lewis, who heads an initiative within Verizon Wireless to provide access to non-phone devices, said Wednesday that five companies have approached Verizon about wireless connections for e-readers.

"You're going to see a lot of e-readers out there," Lewis said. "The interest level is tremendous."

Lewis wouldn't say which manufacturers Verizon has been talking to. But he hinted that they are looking at entering parts of the e-book market that the Kindle doesn't focus on, like college textbooks.

Amazon.com Inc. launched the second version of the Kindle a month ago. It uses Sprint Nextel Corp.'s wireless network to provide near-instant access to a store with 100,000 books.

So far, the Kindle's main competitor has been Sony Corp.'s Reader. It has the same type of screen, meant to imitate the look of paper, but lacks wireless access. Instead, books are loaded by connecting the device to a computer.

"We'd love to have Sony on there," Lewis said, refusing to confirm if the company had been in touch. He spoke at a cell phone trade show that started Wednesday in Las Vegas.

AT&T Inc., the second largest wireless carrier after Verizon Wireless, has also been talking to e-reader manufacturers, said Ralph de la Vega, the company's head of consumer services. Since AT&T's network is more similar to ones used overseas, it could support international e-book readers, he noted. The Kindle can download books only in the U.S.

Just like Verizon Wireless, AT&T is looking for ways to expand the uses of its wireless network beyond cell phones to generate additional revenue.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. of New York and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain.

AT&T May Enter E-Book Market, Dominated by Kindle (Update3)

By Hugo Miller and Amy Thomson

April 1 (Bloomberg) -- AT&T Inc. may enter the e-book market, dominated by Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle reader, as the wireless carrier looks beyond phones for new sources of revenue.

The Kindle, which lets users download books over Sprint Nextel Corp.’s network, has done a “phenomenal job” and AT&T wants to be part of that market, Glenn Lurie, head of emerging devices at AT&T, said today.

AT&T, the second-largest U.S. mobile phone carrier, is looking for new revenue streams as the pool of people in the U.S. without mobile phones shrinks.

AT&T also said today it will start selling netbooks, scaled-down computers that typically cost less than $500, with embedded wireless Internet cards. They will be available in Atlanta starting at $49.99 and in Philadelphia from $99.99 when subscribers subscribe to a data plan.

“There’s a whole bunch of ways to monetize that type of device,” Lurie said in an interview with Bloomberg at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas. “That’s coming, it’s coming fast,” he said. “We’re going to be part of it.”

Lurie declined to comment on potential partners or when such a device, which lets customers download the text of books and read them digitally on a tablet, might be released. Amazon.com spokesman Drew Herdener declined to comment.

The paperback-sized Kindle 2, released in February, sells for $359 and holds more than 1,500 books, seven times more than the original model. Users have a choice of more than 230,000 titles, as well as major U.S. and international newspapers, magazines and blogs.

Verizon

Verizon Wireless, the largest mobile-phone company, said today it’s also branching out into consumer electronics. The company set up a development unit that will work with companies to put “fourth-generation” high-speed data service in new products. Verizon declined to name the brands it’s working with.

AT&T, based in Dallas, rose 72 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $25.92 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has lost 9 percent this year. Verizon Communications Inc., the co-parent of Verizon Wireless, gained $1.02, or 3.4 percent, to $31.22.