Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) Delaying a Larger Kindle Fire?

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is announcing a launch event September 6 for some new Kindle devices – but there is chatter than one of the devices not among this new launch is a 10-inch Kindle Fire, which was expected to be a direct competitor to the iPad by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).

Instead of taking on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) directly, it is expected that Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) will pivot and instead offer a smaller device, maybe in the 8-inch level, according to some reports. However, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has indicated that it will launch a new version of the 7-inch Kindle Fire, which is supposed to be thinner and lighter than the original and would include a camera and a higher-resolution screen. There is also some speculation that broadband options may be more available with the new devices. Right now, Kindle Fire has been strictly a Wi-Fi device, but with expected new features, that may need to be shifted for effective use by users.

“Today, Amazon packages 3G with some of its more expensive e-ink readers for free… But that seems like an impossible model when it comes to devices designed to be media hogs. While not optimal to make consumers pay for 3G or 4G, having the option is a feature consumers might be looking for,” said Tricia Duryee of AllThingsD.

Said Shawn Ingram of GottaBeMobile, the new Kindle Touch from Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is expected to have new features with the same touchscreen to be a more formidable competitor to the Nook Simple Touch from Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE:BKS). “The new Kindle Touch will likely have a light-up screen that will make reading in the dark much easier for Kindle owners. [And] since Amazon is out of stock of the Kindle Touch now, we assume the light-up model will be available the same day as the September 6 event. If not, the new model will likely go up for pre-order that day with a shipping date sometime shortly after,” Ingram said.