Amazon announced today that Kindle for iOS and Kindle for Android (News - Alert) are receiving a free software update that takes the hassle out of switching between reading and listening to your kindle. With Whispersync for Voice, the Kindle app now lets you switch instantly between reading a Kindle book and listening to the companion audiobook from Audible—without leaving the book.

“We’re working hard to help customers find more moments each day to enjoy a great book,” said Russ Grandinetti, senior vice president, Amazon Kindle. “Integrating professional narration into our Kindle apps means you never have to put down a favorite book—start reading at home, get in the car and simply tap a button to continue listening without losing your place.”

“We continue to hear from a growing number of Whispersync for Voice converts who tell us the innovation has profoundly changed the way they read—in fact, switching back and forth between reading and listening has become their preferred way of experiencing stories,” said Audible founder and CEO Donald Katz. “And the feature has gotten easier and easier to use, as this exciting integration into Kindle apps attests.”

Narration is available for more than 45,000 Kindle books and growing—including popular best-sellers from a wide variety of genres. It’s now easier than ever to add professional narration Kindle books with one click using Matchmaker, a service that scans your Kindle library to find which of your Kindle books have a companion Audible version available. Audio upgrades are available for as little as $0.99, with upgrades to bestsellers like the Outlander series and The Hunger Games series available for as little as $3.99.

Now you can switch from reading a book at home to listening to that very same book on your commute, with a tap of your finger.  


Edited by Maurice Nagle