Is it too late for Amazon to get into the tech device game? Well in a world dominated by Microsoft and Apple is it possible for Amazon, the world’s largest drop shipper to become a viable force in the tech device game? Well in Newsweek’s seven page feature, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announces the company’s intentions to do so.

Introducing the Kindle, book publisher’s answer to the iPod. But don’t get it twisted Bezos says, “this isn’t (just) a device, it’s a service.” The Kindle which will run for $399 and will start shipping today is perpetually connected to the internet and will use Amazon’s sophisticated storefront to allow users to browse for books (88,000 at launch,) magazines and newspapers and buy them in a “one-touch process.” It also comes with a personal Kindle email address (similar to T-Mobile’s sidekick) and lets you browse the REAL internet like the iPhone. Book titles will mostly range from classics at $1.99 to New York Times bestsellers and hardback new releases will go for $9.99.

So what is the real life application for people like us? Well I’m not a huge reader…I do read the newspaper and some magazines but not enough to warrant owning a product like this. But as my cohort JReid360 called to my attention, this could be huge development for the student. No longer would students be forced to lug around huge textbooks and literary novels, instead opting for the handy tool which gives them instant internet access as well.

The 10.3 ounce device is said to hold up to 200 books which can be expanded with memory cards and is said to get up to 30 hours of reading on a single battery charge. Bezos and Newsweek have yet to reveal whether the Whispernet internet service is included in the price of the device (probably not) If not what will it be and who will provide it?