Amazon.com Inc plans to release its first tablet computer before October, heightening competition with Apple Inc, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The company will also release two updated versions of the Kindle electronic reader in the third quarter, one of which will be a touchscreen device.

An Amazon spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman; editing by Carol Bishopric)

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