Amazon today dropped the price of the international version of its Kindle reader to match the US-only version's $259 price tag while merging sales of the two. The lower-priced model is already being offered on Amazon and is a move believed prompted by the recently introduced Nook reader from Barnes & Noble, which also costs $259.

Buyers of the international Kindle, which uses HSPA networks from AT&T and world carriers, will save $20 on the device as a result of the price cut. The US version of the Kindle was previously less expensive because it featured an EVDO radio and only had to rely on Sprint for its connection, saving on roaming charges for data.

Other specs remain identical, including the capacity to hold up to 1,500 books, its 6-inch grayscale display and a text-to-speech feature that can read out compatible e-books and newspapers to users.