Slowly caving...(Kindle-related)

[disneyholic family]

Don't panic. Did your friend buy her Kinle DX very recently. I don't know when the current version of the Kindle DX was released but it wasn't that long ago. Both versions of the Kindle now offer global wireless. There are no fees for accessing global wireless with 1 exception. US customers are charged $1.99 if they actually download a book or periodical. She shouldn't be hit with any roaming charges. The Kindle can also now be shipped outside of the US. From Amazon's website...

Live Outside the U.S.?
Good news. Kindle can now be shipped to customers outside the U.S.
Click here to see important information specific to your country.

I looked up Israel and they are not yet shipping there which is too bad because it sounds like it can access the global wireless from there. Hopefully this will change in the future. The website says.

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship Kindles to Israel.

Customers in Israel can read over 350,000 Kindle books on your PC with our free application for your Windows PC - no Kindle required. Click here to learn more.

it was purchased back in August (yes, and she hasn't used it yet - because she couldn't figure it out)..

interesting that they claim you need their application to use it on a PC, since i did use it on my PC....i didn't need any sort of application....just plugged it in using the USB.....my laptop 'found' the new hardware and voila....no problem at all....i could browse and purchase...

what shocked me was that i was able to use it wirelessly as well....

so my guess is, given what you quoted, the problem is they don't have an agreement with any of the cellphone companies in israel.....
i believe that whispernet sits on the sprint network....so it would seem that at least one of the cell phone companies here has a relationship with Sprint, and that's what got picked up by the network here...
since there is no agreement, there will be roaming charges against someone...the question is, who will be hit by them...possibly her amazon account....or maybe amazon or maybe sprint will be stuck with it (for not disabling the system)....or maybe the local company will be left holding the bag...

very interesting....

 

[jediobiwan]

The PC thing they were referring to is to read Kindle books on your PC, in the absence of a Kindle. So you could go buy a Kindle Book from your computer, and read it all on your computer.

 

[Brandis]

While Amazon is not yet shipping the Kindle to Israel, 3G coverage seems to be perfect there, so she should be able to access the Amazon Bookstore from her Kindle there. Also Wikipedia can be accessed internationally as well.

Interestingly, the GSM network which they have on some cruise ships seems to have the same identification as in the US, since on our Med cruise I was able to access the internet through the Kindle. Very slow but still interesting to read my e-mails as the onboard internet rate was $.75 per minute!

 

[disneyholic family]

While Amazon is not yet shipping the Kindle to Israel, 3G coverage seems to be perfect there, so she should be able to access the Amazon Bookstore from her Kindle there. Also Wikipedia can be accessed internationally as well.

Interestingly, the GSM network which they have on some cruise ships seems to have the same identification as in the US, since on our Med cruise I was able to access the internet through the Kindle. Very slow but still interesting to read my e-mails as the onboard internet rate was $.75 per minute!

and you never were charged for the internet use on your amazon account?
in the manual that came with her kindle it says that internet browsing on the kindle isn't free, though it doesn't state how much it costs...

 

[Brandis]

Where does it say there is a charge for internet usage? I quickly looked over the manual, but didn't see anything about it.

Also, if you google Kindle Free Internet, you will find tons of entries of people mentioning the free internet access. It's actually also an important point in some reviews.

 

[disneyholic family]

Where does it say there is a charge for internet usage? I quickly looked over the manual, but didn't see anything about it.

Also, if you google Kindle Free Internet, you will find tons of entries of people mentioning the free internet access. It's actually also an important point in some reviews.

The following is copied directly from the manual that came with the kindle dx:

Wireless Connectivity
General. Amazon provides wireless connectivity free of charge to you for certain content shopping and downloading services on your Device. You may be charged a fee for wireless connectivity for your use of other wireless services on your Device, such as Web browsing and downloading of personal files, should you elect to use those services. We will maintain a list of current fees for such services in the Kindle Store. Amazon reserves the right to discontinue wireless connectivity at any time or to otherwise change the terms for wireless connectivity at any time, including, but not limted to (a) limiting the number and size of data files that may be transferred using wireless connectivity and (b) changing the amount and terms applicable for wirless connectivity charges.

 

[Brandis]

That may be a generic phrase allowing them to charge for it in the future, but at the moment fact is that internet browsing is free if it is not disabled as per location setting (basically anywhere outside the US I think).

However, Wikipedia is usable anywhere with coverage.

 

[disneyholic family]

That may be a generic phrase allowing them to charge for it in the future, but at the moment fact is that internet browsing is free if it is not disabled as per location setting (basically anywhere outside the US I think).

However, Wikipedia is usable anywhere with coverage.

when i read it i thought that's probably what it was - lawyers covering their future derrieres....

that's cool that the connectivity is free...
so now i'm wondering what the story is on this kindle that's been working here...
i'm going to try calling the kindle information phone number to see if anyone knows whether there are charges for using it here or not...

interesting..

 

[anonymousegirl]

Just purchased the Kindle 2 global edition!!! So excited to get it. I already have the Kindle app for the iPhone and love it, just wish the display was larger (I speed read and I'm developing carpal tunnel syndrome from turning the page so often. LOL)
Just waiting to order the Oberon color until I am sure I do not want the DX version.
I went with the 6'' display because of the added weight of the DX and a few reports of keyboard buttons placement.

I can hardly wait!!

 

[Brandis]

that's cool that the connectivity is free...
so now i'm wondering what the story is on this kindle that's been working here...
i'm going to try calling the kindle information phone number to see if anyone knows whether there are charges for using it here or not...

Only thing which will be charged are, in the US the price for the books, newspaper subscriptions and if you mail documents directly onto the Kindle.

If your main location is the US and you take the Kindle to other countries, there is a separate $2 delivery fee on top of the book price per book purchased.

If your main location is outside the US, there is no separate delivery fee, however, the book prices are just inflated by $2 So you won't find any free books on amazon because they will at least cost $2.

 

[disneyholic family]

Only thing which will be charged are, in the US the price for the books, newspaper subscriptions and if you mail documents directly onto the Kindle.

If your main location is the US and you take the Kindle to other countries, there is a separate $2 delivery fee on top of the book price per book purchased.

If your main location is outside the US, there is no separate delivery fee, however, the book prices are just inflated by $2 So you won't find any free books on amazon because they will at least cost $2.

i'm wondering if there are roaming charges for using it wirelessly...
i had been led to believe that it simply wouldn't work by wireless..
that you had to use it connected by USB to the computer...

so now that i see it works by wireless, i want to call amazon to find out if there's a charge for that....

 

[Brandis]

no, there are no roaming charges, as the internet wont't work outside the US.

And for the books you already pay more when buying them outside the US.