Amazon announces new Kindle, UK Kindle Store

You will soon be able to get your hands on a new version of Amazon's Kindle e-reader for just 109.

The Kindle, which until now UK surfers have had to buy in US dollars through the Amazon.com store, paying import and customs duties, will now be available through Amazon.co.uk.

What's more, UK customers will be able to buy electronic books in a UK Kindle Store, with some 400,000 paid-for titles available, which Amazon said will have "the lowest book prices of any e-bookstore in the UK".

There are some one million free books to read on the Kindle as well, Amazon said. You can connect to the UK Kindle Store using Wi-Fi or 3G, though the 3G version costs 40 more.

However, you won't incur any extra monthly costs if you opt for the 3G version - using the Amazon Whispernet technology running on Vodafone's mobile network, connecting to the UK Kindle Store is free and doesn't require a separate data plan.

The new Kindle, which will be called simply Kindle rather than Kindle 3 (although the Wi-Fi only version will be called the Kindle Wi-Fi) has a 6in reading area, and can store 3,500 books at any one time.

Contrast has been improved and the claimed battery life is 10 days with the wireless function switched on or one month with the function switched off.

"If you don't need the convenience of 3G wireless, we have an incredible new price point - 109 for Kindle Wi-Fi," said Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon.

"Kindle Wi-Fi has all the same features, same bookstore, same high-contrast electronic paper display, and it's even a tiny bit lighter at 8.5 ounces. At this price point, many people are going to buy multiple units for the home and family," he continued.

For those of you who have converted to metric, the Kindle Wi-Fi weighs a shade over 240g. The 3G version weighs around 247g.

You can pre-order the new Kindle and Kindle Wi-Fi now, with units expected to be available on 27 August.