Kindle army grows with apps for Android, Windows tablets

Amazon is showing once again that the Kindle - considered to be one of the best-selling products on its site - is more than just an e-reader. By offering Kindle apps on pretty much every mobile device out there, Amazon is pushing Kindle to be a brand that's synonymous with e-reading.

Also: Kindle sales figures: Less relevant as Amazon's strategy, brand flourish

Today, the company announced apps for Android- and Windows-based tablet PCs, taking its cue from the popularity of the Kindle app for the iPad. It's all part of Amazon's "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" strategy around Kindle.

Amazon sells the e-book and would probably prefer that you read it on a Kindle - but recognizes that consumers are already loaded down with a number of devices and want them to be able to pick up where they left off with that novel at any given moment.  In a statement, Dorothy Nicholls, director of Amazon Kindle, said:

Kindle is light weight, easy on the eyes with a paper-like Pearl e-ink display, and has a full month of battery life. It’s purpose-built for reading. Many people are buying both a Kindle and an LCD tablet computer. We’re very excited to support the upcoming Android and Windows LCD tablet computers with free Kindle apps that we’ll tailor for the particular devices. Our Whispersync technology makes it simple to move back and forth between devices. Read on your Kindle, read on your tablet, read on your phone. We’ll keep track of your last page read, and make it easy.

In all, Kindle apps now exist for iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, Blackberry and Android-based devices.