[anurag]

From http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/03/...-drops-to-169/

Sony says it is cutting the price on its entry-level e-book reader, dubbed the Pocket Reader, to $169 — perhaps the first in a coming price war for the devices.

Sony’s $30 discount only lasts through April 4, just in time for the April 3 arrival of Apple’s $499 and up iPad in stores on April 3.

Why just two weeks? Sony’s president of digital reading Steve Haber offered this statement: “Sony’s overall mission is to expand digital reading to a larger audience by offering consumers the most access, choice and value,” he said. “The pricing promotion is representative of that mission and occurs naturally as part of the consumer electronics industry.”

Analysts say that single-purpose black and white reading devices, like the Sony Reader, the Amazon’s Kindle and a confusing array of other devices, need to cut prices to stay competitive in a market where multi-purpose color devices also cost less than $500.

Link to reader: http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665921188