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Bezos's message claims that the device sold out in five-and-a-half hours and that the company has been "scrambling to increase our manufacturing capacity ever since."

However, Bezos doesn't reveal how many of the Kindle devices were made available in the first place, arousing suspicions that the "shortages" are little more than a marketing wheeze.

We asked the Amazon.com press department exactly how many Kindle devices have been sold, but it hasn't returned our call at the time of publication.

"We hope to be able to announce to you within the next few weeks that we're back in stock and that when you order a Kindle, we'll ship it to you that very same day," Bezos's message adds.

UK buyers will have to wait much longer than six weeks, of course, as Amazon has yet to announce plans for European availability.

Click here for PC Pro's review of the Amazon Kindle