Amazon launches Australian Kindle ebook store

Amazon has finally launched a website in the Australian domain, with prices in Australian dollars, as well as an Australian version of the Amazon Appstore.

We've been able to buy Kindle e-readers in brick-and-mortar stores for some time. Now, Amazon has officially arrived down under, with a local shop for local people. The Australian Amazon Kindle store is hosted at www.amazon.com.au and has over two million ebooks with prices in Australian dollars — with over 700,000 titles at AU$3.99 or less and over 1.4 million at AU$9.99 or less.

Amazon's Australian ebook store also serves up Australian authors as featured and searchable content.

"Millions of Australians are already Kindle customers, and we're delighted to make it even easier for them to enjoy the Kindle experience," said Amazon Kindle vice president Neil Lindsay. "The new Kindle Store is customised for Australian customers, with local best sellers and curated lists relevant to Australians and many titles from local publishers and authors, such as Tim Winton, Karly Lane and Kate Morton."

Included in the titles are more than 26,000 free English-language ebooks (classics in the public domain) and 400,000 Kindle exclusives.

Australian independent authors and publishers will also be able to self-publish their ebooks to the store (and 175 countries worldwide) for free using the new local version of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Authors using KDP will be able to earn up to 70 per cent royalties, received in Australian or New Zealand dollars, on sales, while maintaining control of copyright.

Finally, as a part of holistically bringing Amazon to Australia, the company's own Android app store will be available in an Australian version, with local apps such as Quickflix and I Heart Radio, as well as Amazon's vast collection of apps and games, with daily app bargains. The app store can be downloaded for Android devices and will come included on the Kindle tablets available in Australian stores.