Google's Android mobile OS is to also power the new Alex e-reader from Spring Design.
Alex, with two screens, one above the other, will be released by the end of the year, according to a statement from the company, which is best known for its Link Notes publishing tool.
With the dual-screen design, a user can read a text or newspaper on the larger upper screen, which uses monochrome electronic paper display technology, and also check hyperlinked multimedia information on the lower, smaller colour LCD screen.
The Alex has Android's web browsing capabilities and additional "smartphone capabilities", but the company did not elaborate.