Kobo launches in South Africa

E-book company Kobo is launching in South Africa and aims to make up 50 percent of the country’s e-readers within a year, challenging current favourite Kindle.

The Kobo Touch was announced at a press conference yesterday in Johannesburg. It is launching with retail partner Pick ‘n Play, which also sells iPads, within South Africa, Books Live reported.

The device will cost 995 rand (US$114). Amazon, on the other hand, ships the Kindle to South Africa, and it is available in some retail stores, paidContent noted.

Earlier this month, Kobo released its new Glo and Mini readers in the United Kingdom and Canada, according to Wired. It also announced partnerships with bookstores in New Zealand: Booksellers NZ and The Paper Plus Group.