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In Canada, Kobo is offered by the leading bricks and mortar bookseller, Chapters/Indigo (they also own abt 60% of Kobo); it's also for sale at Wal-mart Canada ... in both cases for $149.
Sony offers only two editions: the 5" 300 series reader and the 6" Touch reader. Until yesterday, the prices were $200 and up; now, you can save $20 off that if you go to select electronic stores and Sonystyle.
But book buyers -- and this is still a device for actual book readers and not gadget-crazed geeks -- go to book stores (and online bookstores). Sony has little to offer.
And there are virtually no other competitors. Astak Mentor is available in theory for $289 from a leading big box electronic store. I've never seen any other model except Aluratek (at around $150) and it's a clunky beast, locked away where it can't be sampled; nor is it even 2 week battery charge e-ink.
The Kindle 2i is $189+shipping and tied to a very well known book venue. It works well in Canada, with full 3G access, and lots of content in the Amazon store.
There isn't a burning need to launch a $99 reader here; Kobo sells out at $149. There may be some lowering of price as we get closer to the Xmas selling season but unless there is a game-changer new model from Sony, a cheaper edition isn't needed to keep the market expanding and humming.
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