Amazon's Kindle e-books now on Apple iPhone, iPod

Apple Inc iPhone and iPod Touch users can now read books on their devices using software from Amazon.com Inc's Kindle electronic reader, boosting shares of the online retailer 5 percent, reported  reuters.

Amazon's free application is available on Apple's Web store and allows consumers to synchronize Kindles with iPhones and iPod Touch. Users will have access to more than 240,000 books available on Kindle, Amazon said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Kindle, priced at $359, has excited investors and gadget lovers since its launch in 2007, with some speculating the device might eventually be enhanced to compete with gadgets like the iPhone or iPod.

But Wednesday's news suggested Amazon was more interested remaining the No. 1 retailer of e-books, rather than competing directly with Apple on devices.

With the "Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch" application, a user can read a few pages of a book on the Kindle or its newer version, Kindle 2, and continue reading from where they left off on the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Users can shop for books on their Kindle or online and wirelessly transfer them to their iPhone or iPod Touch. They will also be able to access all previously purchased Kindle books, adjust the text size or add bookmarks.