IREX DR800SG eBook Reader [8.1-in Touch-Screen eReader With Multi-Mode 3G Wireless Capabilities, Access Barnes & Noble's eBookstore, Newspaper Direct and LibreDigital]

Many people argue that electronics and the digital age will never spell the end for books. They claim that the very tactile nature of the book-reading experience is more than enough to keep them around for years to come. This has yet to be proven, but it certainly isn’t for wont of trying on the part of eBook technology companies. In fact, it seems like there’s a new eBook reader coming out every other day. Today must be one of the “other” days because IREX has just announced the latest in their own series of eBook readers, the IREX DR800SG digital eBook reader.

The new IREX DR800SG is an 8.1-in touchscreen eBook reader that utilizes multi-mode 3G wireless technology as its path to reader content. It does just about everything that an eBook readers should do. It lets you purchase books, newspapers or magazines from a wide variety of sources and, unlike some other devices, it supports multiple formats including the industry standard ePub. It features an e-ink screen meant to mimic the look of real pages, and it’s pretty portable.

IREX wasn’t alone in the development of the DR800SG eReader. They’ve partnered with a veritable who’s-who in the industry: Barnes & Noble for the content via the Barnes & Nobel eBook Store (www.bn.com/ebooks), Best Buy for the channel to market, and Verizon Wireless for the 3G network accessibility.

The IREX device also leverages the Gobi™ multi-mode 3G embedded module which contains Qualcomm’s mobile broadband technology so you can connect to the network no matter where you are on the planet. The IREX DR800SG is the first eReader to make use of Qualcomm’s technology to support global connectivity.

The IREX DR800SG, which comes with an oh-so-fashionable leather cover will be available in October for $399.99 at select Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) locations. Wireless access to download content is included in the cost and no contract is required. The IREX DR800SG will launch in Europe the first half of 2010. For more info on this and the entire line of IREX eBook readers head on over to www.IREXTechnologies.com.