Wink to launch e-book reader for Rs. 6000

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Wink, the e-reader promoted EC Media and the Kerala-based publishing house DC Books, will reach a wider audience once the promoters launch a cheaper version in a few months.

“We are customizing our product to match the need of Indian customers. The current models from Wink have display of 6 inch and are in the price range of Rs 11000. At Wink we have plans to launch ebook reader with 5 inch display which will be priced around Rs 6000. This product will enable us to reach more customers, ” said Pradeep Palazhi, chief operating officer, EC Media, in an interaction with CIOL, after the launch of Wink here today.

This new model, to be launched in 3-4 months, will have five-inch display and other features that are almost similar to the existing models of Wink ebook reader. Wink is also planning to launch some new models with six-inch display in the price range Rs 8000. Wink allows users to read in 15 languages and makes available 200,000 titles to choose from.

“We are working on a business model to further reduce prices on both the devices and content for our users. At present we are offering 50 free ebooks on purchase of our product. Further we are working out on models that can subsidize price of ebooks in our offering,” said Palazhi.

Wink customer at the moment can avail 25 per cent discount on most of the ebooks available on Wink platform.

The company has tie-up with both international as well as Indian publishers. Some of these names include Penguin, Princeton University Press, The Collins Press, Spectra, Waterbook Press, Prabhat Prakashan, DC Books... and the list goes long. Further, Wink has plan to double this collection in the next four to five months.

“In next four to five months we will double the content that we are offering. Besides this, we are talking to leading newspapers to bring them on our platform. We are expecting 10 national dailies to be available on Wink in the next 10 months. Right now Wink users can access Tehelka and Business Standard,” said Palazhi.

Palazhi added that Wink will offer application for enterprises as well.

“We will start business application like document on Wink from next month onward. Simultaneously we will read our customers need and introduce new application that will meet their need,” he said.

EC Media has plan to launch ebook reader that will support colour graphics, in the second quarter of 2011. In terms of business , Palazhi expects that EC Media will be able to sell 60,000 to 70,000 units of Wink.

EC Media is selling Wink through Chroma, Reliance, Crossword and Landmark stores across country.