Amazon has ramped up its challenge to Apple's iPads by making the large-screen Kindle Fire available in new markets and trimming its price - but it is still not available in Australia.
The online retailer cut $US100 from the price of the Kindle Fire HD with 8.9-inch screens and connectivity to the latest-generation wireless telecom networks, giving the tablets a starting price of $US399 in the United States.
A version of the Kindle Fire HD that connects to the internet using Wi-Fi hotspots was given a starting price of $US269.
However there is still no suggestion that Amazon's tablets will ever make it to Australian shores, apart from its fleet of Kindle e-book readers.
Amazon nevertheless is talking up its latest move in the tablet market.
"We're thrilled with customer reaction to Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch," said Amazon Kindle vice president Dave Limp.
"As we expand Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch to Europe and Japan, we've been able to increase our production volumes and decrease our costs."
The tablet became available in Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Japan.
