Sony’s reader goes wireless

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and NEW YORK, N.Y. Sony launched its first wireless electronic reader, a move to challenge Amazon's recent dominance of the growing digital book market, according to Reuters.

The "Daily Edition," priced at $399, features a seven inch touch screen and will go on sale in December. AT&T will be the carrier for the new wireless device, which will use a 3G connection, wireless internet technology featured on gadgets like Apple's iPhone.

After a year of headlines dominated by Amazon's Kindle e-book reader, Sony has taken the offensive. Earlier this month, the company launched two new lower-priced readers for $199 and $299. Amazon's Kindle devices cost $299 and $489 for a larger-screen version geared toward newspaper viewing.

Whereas Sony's readers have touchscreens, it has never featured a wireless connection. This is something that analysts say most technology users have come to expect. The Kindle, though wireless, does not offer touchscreen.

Sony released its reader in 2006, but Amazon's Kindle, which launched in 2007, has gotten much more attention, according to Reuters. Sony has tried to regain momentum in recent months.

Sony said in August that it would convert its digital book store, which includes over 1 million titles, to EPUB, a publishing standard that allows users to read their books on multiple devices. Amazon’s titles can be viewed only on a Kindle or by using Amazon software on an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.

Sony also struck a deal with Google earlier this year that allows its readers access to more than half a million public domain books for free.