Nook launches $149 WiFi version, cuts 3G version to $199

Let the e-book reader price wars begin. Barnes & Noble has dropped the price of its Nook reader by $60, to $199. In addition, the company has launched a $149 version of the Nook that omits connectivity to a 3G network and connects wirelessly to the net, including B&N's e-bookstore, only via Wi-fi.

I predicted the price cut last month, when the $150 Kobo e-book reader was announced, upping the pressure on B&N to cut the price of its device. The company essentially did so a number of weeks back, when it began offering a $50 gift card with the purchase of a Nook. That offer now appears to be discontinued in favor of the price cut.

One question now is whether Amazon will follow suit with its Kindle e-book reader. The device competes directly with the Nook, sharing its 6-inch screen size, e-ink screen technology, and lifetime 3G connectivity. Amazon cut the price of the Kindle twice last year, reducing its price from the original $359 to the current $259.

The Nook price cut takes effect today. B&N is also taking pre-orders now for the Nook Wi-Fi, which will ship later in the week and be available at select B&N retail stores later in June. 

Since the 3G Nook also works on Wi-fi, we expect the Nook Wi-Fi to perform comparably to its 3G sibling. Indeed, the only differences B&N has announced for the Wi-Fi are a slight weight difference (it weighs a half-ounce less than the 3G) and a white (rather than grey) back cover. 

For more on how the Nook stacks up, see our Ratings of e-book readers, available to subscribers. 

B&N also recently announced that all Nooks are now able to access free all AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots, including those in coffeeshops and the like.

—Paul Reynolds