Going with K2 in Canada afterall

[All4Fun]

Originally Posted by SteGar

Interesting point all4fun.

This being said, I agree that Bell and Telus would not be able to accomodate a service like whispernet, but my understanding is that Rogers would be.

As a matter of fact, Rogers is apparently the only one of the 3 carrying G3 network (ie this is why the IPhone is only available through Fido, a Rogers subsidiary). My brother in law was telling me last night that Bell Blackberry World was even piggybacking on the Rogers network...

I will investigate further, but since I have to travel to the US 6 to 8 times a year... I could use the wireless feature then at least.

Hi SteGar.

It's not my intent to discourage you but to inform you on what is possible and what is not.

The K2's whispernet uses a CDMA network (Sprint). Therefore the K2 could only ever possibly work on a CDMA network such as Bell or Telus in Canada (Rogers and Fido are GSM networks). For the K2 to work on Bell or Telus, Amazon would have to work out a roaming arrangement with Bell and/or Telus increasing costs. Could it happen? Maybe. But I suspect that Amazon will region lock a Canadian K2 to one of the 4 Canadian cellular providers and not allow roaming when in the U.S. similar to a U.S. K2 not being able to roam on Bell or Telus to reduce roaming costs.

The U.S. K2 in its current incarnation could NEVER work on Rogers or Fido because they are GSM networks. The reason why your brother-in-law's Blackberry "WORLD" phone works is that is supports its native CDMA network and the ability to use a GSM network which is the predominant cellular network outside of North America and parts of North America. Not many phones have that dual capability but the Blackberry WORLD phone does.

My "guess" is that Amazon will make a K2 compatible with a GSM network to reduce costs and work around the world where GSM is the predominant network but lock it to specific cell providers in their respective regions. In Canada, that would be with Rogers or Fido similar to how the iPhone is being distributed around the world.

Just my guess and $0.02

[All4Fun]

Originally Posted by SteGar

All4fun,

Here is an interesting article on the subject...

http://indexmb.com/why-no-kindle-in-...sper-wireless/

In the end, the issue might not be the network after all, but rather a company named Jasper Wireless...In any event, patience will be needed !!

Stegar

Thanks for the link. If this is true, it's actually a little discouraging to read and short-sighted by Amazon IMO. It doesn't allow the K2 to grow outside of the U.S. borders.

By the time Amazon figures this out, there may be other competitors to the Kindle available outside the U.S.

[SteGar]

All4fun,

Well, let me put it this way, your knowledge of cellular technology pretty much leaves mine way back there in the dust... but does your explanation still apply after reading the Jasper Wireless article.

By the way, I just stumbled onto a guy that was apparently able to make his K2 wireless by playing with the USB connection... pretty scary !!

http://blog.fsck.com/2009/03/tethering-your-kindle.html

I agree that in the end, it has to do with your degree of tolerance to the fact that this technology is in constant evolution... You got to go with what suits you now and stop worrying about the rest...

Talk to you soon !

[All4Fun]

Originally Posted by SteGar

All4fun,

Well, let me put it this way, your knowledge of cellular technology pretty much leaves mine way back there in the dust... but does your explanation still apply after reading the Jasper Wireless article.

By the way, I just stumbled onto a guy that was apparently able to make his K2 wireless by playing with the USB connection... pretty scary !!

http://blog.fsck.com/2009/03/tethering-your-kindle.html

I agree that in the end, it has to do with your degree of tolerance to the fact that this technology is in constant evolution... You got to go with what suits you now and stop worrying about the rest...

Talk to you soon !

My position still stands from a technical standpoint. After reading the article, it appears that Jasper Wireless leases spectrum from Sprint to make the whole whispernet thing work.

The limitations appear to be more contractual with respect to exclusivity. As such, that is what muddy's the water somewhat and may be handcuffing Amazon from branching out outside of the U.S.

At any rate, with technology, think about today or you won't end up doing anything. As you visit the U.S. several times a year, you can use whispernet while down there. There are other ways to circumvent the whole whispernet thing to get Amazon books by purchasing gift cards.

Take a look at this thread for more info about this:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41716

- Richard

[igorsk]

http://blog.fsck.com/2009/03/more-fa...2-tidbits.html

There appear to be on-board PPP configurations for both Sprint and AT&T (though of course the Kindle's EVDO modem will only talk to Sprint).