During the past 12 months Sony, which is struggling to make a profit up against record profits from the likes of Samsung and Apple, has invested significant capital into the expansion of its eBook reader in the US and eight other countries but not Australia.
In recent months the Japanese company has launched an e-book reader with 3G communication capability and cut new deals with several newspaper and magazine publishers.
Fujio Noguchi, the Vice President of Sony's Digital Reading Business Division, said last week that the eBook is selling so well Sony had supply problems in the US. He also said that the Sony eBook reader is the best-selling product in the Sony Style stores.
Speculation is mounting that Sony Australia is considering the launch of its eBook reader in Australia via its own Sony Stores and via a Sony Australia online store. Content for the Sony Reader will be purchased via the new Sony Content Network that is set to be expanded in Australia this year.
The Sony eBook range consists of the "Reader Pocket Edition," a low-priced model released in August 2009, the "Reader Touch Edition," which comes with a touch panel, and the "Reader Daily Edition," which has a wireless communication capability and was released in December 2009.
The best-selling model is the Reader Touch Edition.
