On the Call: Amazon CFO Tom Szkutak talks about the Kindle’s international growth

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On the Call: Amazon CFO Tom Szkutak

SAN FRANCISCO — Amazon.com Inc. started selling its Kindle e-reader at Target stores last quarter — part of an effort to boost sales amid ever-increasing competition from other e-reader makers and Apple Inc.’s iPad.

Amazon, which released the first Kindle in 2007, has never said how many it has sold, though it said that sales have tripled since the company cut the price by $70, to $189 in June. That price cut came just hours after Barnes & Noble Inc. said it would lower the price of its competing Nook e-reader by $60, to $199.

During a conference call with analysts to discuss Amazon’s second-quarter report, Chief Financial Officer Tom Szkutak was asked how Amazon’s partnership with Target Corp. is doing.

QUESTION: Can you give details about how the Kindle is selling at Target?

ANSWER: “In terms of Target, we have a long-standing practice of not talking about any results from specific partners, but we’re pleased overall with our growth in Kindle all the way around and we’re pleased with our relationship there.”