Samsung to launch wireless e-book readers, joining Sony, Amazon

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Samsung to launch e-book readers

LAS VEGAS — Samsung, the leading maker of phones and TVs for the U.S. market, is launching e-book readers early this year, joining a host of manufacturers who hope to capitalize on the shift away from paper books.

Samsung Electronics Inc. will be launching two models with 6-inch and 10-inch “electronic ink” screens, similar to the sizes of Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle models. They’ll be able to download public-domain books from Google Inc. via Wi-Fi, and they’ll come with styluses so users can write on the screen.

The models will cost $399 and $699 respectively, Samsung announced at the International Consumer Electronics Show. It didn’t say who would provide for-pay e-books for the devices.