Amazon.com has launched a new internationally enabled Kindle portable reading device, with shipping to Australia available from October 19.

Kindle wirelessly downloads books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and personal documents to a high-resolution, six inch, electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper and uses the same 3G wireless technology as mobile phones.

The most commonly found electronic reader in Australia presently is the iLiad, sold by Dymocks Books.

The new international availability will allow Amazon customers in Australia to wirelessly shop the Kindle store. The Kindle store allows for the download of complete books in less than 60 seconds, as well as the receipt of newspaper and magazine subscriptions and personal documents.

The US Kindle Store stocks more than 350,000 books, with around 75,000 of these added in the last five months.

Australia is one of more than 100 countries outside Amazon's home market of the US who are able to pre-order the device for shipping later in the month.