It’s official. eBooks are the latest global battleground as eBook publishers suddenly realize that there is a lot of money to be made provided their business model is right and their eBooks provide the correct combination between perceived value and price.

Amazon has announced that it was introducing a new version of its Kindle e-book reader that can wirelessly download books in the United States and more than 100 countries. The new device, which is expected to ship towards the end of October is physically similar to the previous Kindle with a six-inch display. However, the new e-reader will be capable of downloading books and periodicals via wireless networks belonging to AT&T and its international partners.

"We have millions of customers in countries all over the world who read English-language books," Amazon.com Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. "Kindle enables these customers to think of a book and download it wirelessly in less than 60 seconds."

The re-positioning of Amazon which until recently had its sights firmly focused on the US market alone takes the eBook market into an entirely new level. Although it’s still too early to call it the market seems to be poised on the edge of a breakthrough which will be akin to the iTunes paradigm shift for music. Kerching!