Amazon has launched an electronic device that could replace the traditional printed book.

Yesterday, the e-tailer introduced Kindle – an electronic device that can hold up to 200 books. The battery-operated device weighs just 10 oz and will retail for about£200.

Full-length books can be downloaded to Kindle in less than a minute, with each download costing about US$10 (£4.85). Up to 90,000 books have been made available for use with the electronic reader.

Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said: “There are no monthly wireless bills, no service or data plans and no yearly contracts. We want you to get lost in the reading – not the technology.”

The technology is similar to that of Sony’s e-book device, however Sony’s does not enable wireless access.

Sony’s e-reader was launched in 2006 to a less than enthusiastic response. It is set to launch in the UK next year.