Amazon: eBooks outsell hardcovers for first time

SEATTLE – Online retailer Amazon.com says that sales of electronic books have surpassed hardcover paper books for the first time.

Amazon told ABC News it sold 143 electronic books for every 100 hard cover books over the last three months and the tide continues to turn in favor of ebooks.

Amazon also makes and sells the Kindle ebook reader and recently lowered the price of some models of the popular device. Amazon indicated the rising popularity of ebooks and the new low price of some Kindle models are continuing to drive ebook sales.

Additionally, the Kindle application, or “app,” is available for use on most computers and many mobile phones, including Apple’s popular iPhone line.

Apple has also waded into the electronic book market with its iBook application, which works on the iPhone and Apple computers.

Book seller Barnes and Noble also sells an ebook reader, called the Nook, and sells ebooks online. Competitor Borders is expected to debut an ebook reader called the Kobo soon. Sony also sells several ebook readers. Borders also has an ebook app available.

Ebook buyers download their purchases via a wireless network, including cellular systems. Ebooks usually download in under a minute and most devices can hold hundreds or even thousands of books.

Ebook readers also allow users to read PDF documents, newspapers, blogs, email and other online content, depending on the reader and software.

Users can also make notes while reading the books and the machines typically remember where the reader last left off, depending on the software features.

Ebooks usually cost less than their hardcover versions since no materials are used and negligible shipping costs are required.