Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos unveils Kindle Fire tablet computer

GlobalPost

Amazon entered the highly competitive tablet computer market Wednesday, unveiling its Kindle Fire, which the company is positioning to challenge Apple's iPad.

The Kindle Fire will have a 7-inch display and sell for $199, compared with $499 for Apple’s cheapest iPad, Bloomberg reports. The Kindle Fire's price undercuts U.S. rival Barnes & Noble's Nook Color by $50..

Until now, Amazon has stuck to making black-and-white e-readers, the BBC says. The new device will run a modified version of Google's Android software.

More from GlobalPost: Amazon launches free web-based Kindle Cloud Reader

Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos introduced the Kindle Fire, as well as a cheaper Kindle touch model, at an event in New York City.

Bloomberg says the Kindle Fire does not have a built-in camera or microphone, but does include Wifi connectivity, although not 3G access.It is due to go on sale on Nov. 15 in the United States. Global release dates have not yet been announced.

Hewlett-Packard discontinued its TouchPad in August, only about a month after its debut, Bloomberg notes. 

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