Amazon plans to release a tablet computer by October, reports the Wall Street Journal. The nine-inch tablet will run on Google’s Android platform, and won’t have a camera. A few questions loom, such as how Amazon will keep its tablet from cannibalizing sales of its best-selling Kindle and about marketing. Apple has brick-and-mortar stores to sell its devices and Amazon does not.

Some experts are saying, however, that Amazon is better-positioned than other companies to go up against Apple, in part because Amazon already has a heavily-promoted digital-content store with a significant selection and following. In addition, a Forrester Research analyst said Amazon may be able to offer a cheaper alternative to the iPad by selling the tablet at a loss while making money on digital content.

The WSJ points out that Amazon will be facing competitors other than Apple. Sony just unveiled prototypes of a tablet and a dual-screen portable device that will offer movies, apps, music, books and PlayStation game and be available later this year.

Read more at the WSJ ^[1].