Circuit City, Amazon Join $198 HD DVD Player Club (UPDATED)

Wal-Mart isn't the only retailer offering Toshiba's HD-A2 HD DVD player at the record low price of $198.

As we've previously reported, the discount retailer made headlines last week when it confirmed that it would carry Toshiba's second-gen 1080i HD DVD player for less than $200.

Now both Circuit City and Amazon.com have joined the fray, offering the same deck for a penny less (at $197.99). Even better, unlike Wal-Mart, both retailers have extended the discounted price on the HD-A2 to online sales.

At press time, it wasn't clear how long these retailers plan to stock the discounted player. We do know that Toshiba plans to release a new comparable entry-level third-gen player (the HD-A3) sometime in November.

Speaking with Fortune Magazine last week, a Wal-Mart spokesperson disputed earlier reports that the player would only be made available in limited number, saying "There are no limited quantities for stores or purchases."