Borders has moved closer to joining the e-reader ranks: it has begun taking orders for the Kobo, which begins shipping June 17 and retails for $149.99, significantly less than its major competition although it is not as sophisticated a device. Borders is also launching Area-e boutiques--discrete areas for displaying and selling e-readers--in stores in August. And the related Borders e-book store is soon launching with a million titles, accessible through Borders's website and Borders apps.

Borders interim president and CEO Mike Edwards indicated that the Kobo will be the first of a "wide selection" of e-readers the company will sell. "We are giving consumers the flexibility to read the content they want on a variety of devices of their choosing," he said.

The Kobo has its origins north of the border in the Shortcovers e-reader software that was developed by Indigo Books & Music. Kobo now is a joint venture between Indigo, Borders, REDgroup Retail (which owns Borders stores in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore as well as Angus & Robertson and Whitcoulls) and Cheung Kong Holdings.

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Speaking of Borders Australia, the company is guaranteeing that it will beat Amazon prices in an effort to demonstrate that it is cheaper for Australians to buy a book in Australia than from the U.S. via Amazon, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

If a customer finds a book on Amazon.com at a lower price, including purchasing and freight costs, Borders Australia will refund the difference plus 10%.