A new version of Amazon's Kindle e-reader will for the first time make wireless downloading of English-language content to the device available outside the US, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos told Wired Magazine in an interview published on October 6 2009.

The new Kindle, sold as the Kindle with US and International Wireless, was not just intended for Americans traveling abroad. According to Bezos, Amazon's sales patterns showed what he referred to as a sizable demand for English-language books in countries that speak other languages. Until now, English-language books were hard to find, expensive and slow to arrive, Bezos told Wired Magazine.

The new Kindle would make this process snappy and easy, without the need for additional wireless contracts or fees. The new device, priced at $279 (190 euro), will start shipping on October 15 2009, but can be pre-ordered before that date.

The current model, with US-only wireless, would continue to be on sale, at a reduced price of $259 (175 euro).

The new Kindle was identical to the current model, except for the radio, Bezos said.

The device would use AT&T's wireless network, which provides Amazon with a read in 100 countries worldwide, instead of Sprint that the older model uses.

According to Wired Magazine, despite Amazon negotiating an arrangement with publishers that it was to pay royalties depending on the territory of purchase, about one third of the Kindle store would not be available in all countries.

Amazon statistics showed that in early 2009, of books available in both electronic and paper version, 35 per cent of copies sold by Amazon were Kindle versions. The percentage has since gone up to 48 per cent, Bezos was quoted by Wired Magazine as saying.

According to Buglarian daily Dnevnik, the new Kindle would not be able to use the experimental Kindle web browser in Bulgaria.