Plastic Logic e-reader to feature AT&T 3G connection
(Credit:
Plastic Logic)
Last week, Plastic Logic hooked up with Barnes & Noble. Now it's got something going with AT&T to provide the 3G wireless connection for its upcoming e-reader, due out in early 2010.
Early Wednesday, the company announced the agreement, though details were scant. There was no mention of pricing, and it remains unclear whether you'll have to pay extra for AT&T's 3G service or whether it will be included with the device, like it is with Amazon's Kindle. (Amazon has a partnership with Sprint to supply the Kindle's wireless connection.) However, the announcement does note that AT&T offers worldwide coverage and that "AT&T devices work in more than 200 countries and regions."
Plastic Logic's upcoming e-reader has been in the works for a while. It uses E-ink technology, is about the size of an 8.5-by-11-inch pad of paper, is less than 0.25 inches thick, and weighs less than many print magazines (at least the ones that still attract advertising). It also has a touch-screen user interface and built-in Wi-Fi, which leads us to believe the 3G connection may require an extra fee.
Plastic Logic's only comment on pricing is that it will be announced "when the product begins shipping in early 2010."
It seems a little odd that the company is making these types of introductions so far in advance of the product's release, but the e-reader space is heating up and other competitors are lurking. By the time the Plastic Logic Reader arrives, Sony will most likely have released the next version of its Reader--(I wouldn't be shocked to see an announcement from Sony in the next few weeks)--and it, too, might offer a wireless option.
Comments?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
And for the millionth time... would people get off the color, back-light, OLED bandwagon for these devices. They use E-ink for a reason. Eye strain! If you use any of those you will get the same eye strain as you with your computer monitor or TV, but worse.
I'll keep dreaming about being able to read full-color magazines (PopSci, Discover, etc.,) on a future OLED (or whatever else comes down the pike) device.
As for choosing AT&T as their 3G provider; clearly, they have not been reading the news for the past year or two. Grade: D
I'll make it easier for Plastic Logic's (and other competitor's) executives and provide them with a simple mathematical formula to follow:
( AT+T) / 3G = E
I think this device looks great and its specs sound awesome. However, the only bone I have to pick with this whole thing is: I can't find any textbooks needed for my classes on either Amazon or B&N. Until I can find downloadable textbooks from these services, this thing is going to be a flop to me. And I have a feeling downloadable textbooks are going to be ignored for quite some time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHRgNtNj9M
- by mcc99 July 27, 2009 10:16 AM PDT
- This announcement is related to Terrestar's recent successful deployment of their flagship satellite. With this new 'river in the sky' AT&T will be able to move huge amts. of data all over the place for much cheaper than over cell exclusively. This is going to be a big competitor to Amazon's Kindle and will force them to (finally) drop the price to something a bit more reasonable. (It will also stick it hard to AT&T's cell service competitors.)
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(17 Comments)The reason they are announcing this now is just to hype it up. But notice they waited until Terrestar's launch was successful. Common denominator: AT&T already has a contract with TSTR to buy their service.