Amazon routes Kindle books to BlackBerry smartphones

Amazon released a free Kindle for BlackBerry application that makes the online shop's electronic books available for reading on the Research In Motion smartphones.

"Since the launch of our popular Kindle for iPhone app last year, customers have been asking us to bring a similar experience to the BlackBerry," said Amazon Kindle vice president Ian Freed on Thursday.

"We are thrilled to make it available today."

The application available for download online at amazon.com/kindlebb lets BlackBerry users access an online bookstore with more than 420,000 digital works.

Amazon technology lets readers switch between smartphones, iPod Touch devices, computers, and Kindle electronic tablets without losing their places in digital books.

Amazon said its Kindle books will be synced for reading on Apple iPad tablets set for release in March.

While publishers have been pressuring Amazon to raise prices of digital books, most titles remain priced at 9.99 dollars (US) or less, according to the online retailer.

(c) 2010 AFP