Wal-Mart to pull plug on Kindle tablets and e-readers

In yet another sign of its fierce rivalry with Amazon.com, Wal-Mart has decided to pull the plug on Kindle tablets and e-readers.

Wal-Mart will stop selling the internet retailer's Kindle tablets and e-readers and though the company did not give a reason for its decision, it suggested there had been a pricing dispute.

''Our customers trust us to provide a broad assortment of products at everyday low prices, and we approach every merchandising decision through this lens,'' Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sarah Spencer said in a statement yesterday.

Wal-Mart, which also carries Apple's iPad and Barnes & Noble's Nook, would continue to sell tablets and e-readers ''at a variety of great price points,'' she said.

Amazon is known to sell its Kindle devices at almost cost price to stimulate demand for books, movies, music and other products sold on its website.

The Kindle tablet, especially posed a threat to retail chains as it provided a portal to shop on Amazon.