Kindle Touch 3G - no web browsing via 3G? - Page 5

Heart_Mom · 10-03-2011, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

Here's the link to that statement made by The Amazon Team at Amazon's Kindle Forum.

Heart_Mom, I believe that CS representative gave you erroneous information that "Kindle Touch 3G will be able to browse the web using the free 3G service." I still would trust the information as provided on the product page for Kindle Touch 3G over anything from customer service.

I think you're right. I actually went ahead and placed an order for the Kindle Keyboard 3G last night. Someone said upthread that there's no guarantee that Amazon will continue to allow web browsing free with 3G, but doesn't it say something like "free lifetime 3G" on the product page? Maybe they only mean free 3G for downloading books, not for browsing? I hope that's not the case!!!

Thanks for your advice!

HarryT · 10-03-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heart_Mom

I think you're right. I actually went ahead and placed an order for the Kindle Keyboard 3G last night. Someone said upthread that there's no guarantee that Amazon will continue to allow web browsing free with 3G, but doesn't it say something like "free lifetime 3G" on the product page? Maybe they only mean free 3G for downloading books, not for browsing? I hope that's not the case!!!

Thanks for your advice!

No, the only thing that's guaranteed is that there will be free 3G download of content bought from Amazon. The web browser has always been stated to be an "experimental" service that's liable to be withdrawn without notice.

Heart_Mom · 10-03-2011, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, the only thing that's guaranteed is that there will be free 3G download of content bought from Amazon. The web browser has always been stated to be an "experimental" service that's liable to be withdrawn without notice.

Hmmmm... I was assuming that I would be able to use this Kindle as an easy way to get info from the web when I'm out. If that's likely to go away, I'll have to rethink my purchase. 3G downloading of books is not really a bonus for me, since I will be able download books at home by wi-fi.

Thanks for the information!!!

blue_skies · 10-03-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Amazon have always been quite open about the fact that the free web browsing is an "experimental" service and liable to be withdrawn at any time. All that's guaranteed is access to the Amazon bookstore.

I would be extremely angry if they ever discontinue the free 3G on my K3. That is the main reason I bought it. I know the browser is ridiculously difficult and tedious to use, but I want to be able to use it in an emergency, like the week we had a power outage here. With the long battery life and 3G, I would like to be able to send an email or two and check for news updates in a situation like that.

I bought the 3G version because it said "lifetime 3G". It was not qualified in any way. And I do not buy that because the web browser is termed "experimental" that that allows them to remove it at some time.

To me, "experimental" means that the functions are still somewhat buggy and/or not completely developed - like the audio player that is very basic and doesn't allow you to choose a specific track. Removing the 3G capability because the browser is termed "experimental" would be just like removing the ability to play music on a player that was termed "experimental". Many people made their purchasing decisions based on those functions, and they can't just renege on it after the fact.

Here's another example. I bought an Ooma device, when they were first released, which allows free lifetime local and US long distance VOIP phone service with no additional charges ever. That was what was advertised and that is why many people like me paid over $200 for it.

Later, laws were changed and the company had to start paying taxes and fees. The company no longer sells or advertises the Ooma device that has completely free service with no additional monthly fees... but they had to honor what they already sold... which means no extra fees for those of us who bought it when it was advertised with lifetime free service.

If they discontinue the 3G on my Kindle 3, I would demand a full refund... or else, Class Action Lawsuit.

eSheri · 10-03-2011, 10:41 AM

Class Action Suit?? Their site clearly states that 3g is to be used for Amazon shopping and for no other purposes.

HarryT · 10-03-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_skies

I bought the 3G version because it said "lifetime 3G". It was not qualified in any way. And I do not buy that because the web browser is termed "experimental" that that allows them to remove it at some time.

Well, good luck with your lawsuit, but I think you'll find that all Amazon have ever guaranteed the 3G to be available for is content downloading and access to the Kindle bookstore. This has always been the case.

blue_skies · 10-03-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eSheri

Class Action Suit?? Their site clearly states that 3g is to be used for Amazon shopping and for no other purposes.

That's what it says now, but it didn't say that back when I bought it.

If they take it away, I consider that a form of Bait and Switch which is illegal in the US. Even Ooma knew it was not acceptable to advertise and sell a product with free lifetime service and later take it away after the fact.

I'm sure Amazon realizes this and that's why they stated that the free 3G web access will not be removed from the Kindle Keyboard or earlier models. It would cost them way too much from people seeking refunds and cause a PR nightmare. Not worth it when you consider the tiny bit of basic web use people do on the keyboard models.

bshar489 · 10-03-2011, 11:05 AM

I had always understood the "Lifetime 3G" to mean that it would always be available for me to download books, magazines, etc to my Kindle at no charge. Unlike the sending of documents, which is free for WiFi but there is a small fee to have them sent 3G.

As for the browser, I love it, hope to always have it, but I also realize that it could be pulled at any time. I figured that's why they put it under "experimental" so that if they decided to discontinue it, the Kindle Store, being separate, wouldn't be affected.

I don't think Amazon "owes" me free 3G to surf the web however primitive the browser is

but I'll enjoy it while I've got it.

Bergette

HarryT · 10-03-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_skies

That's what it says now, but it didn't say that back when I bought it.

This is what it says, and this is what it has always said, in the Kindle License Agreement and Terms of Use:

Quote:

Use of Wireless Connectivity. Your Kindle uses wireless connectivity to allow you to shop for and download Digital Content from the Kindle Store. In general, we do not charge you for this use of wireless connectivity. Your Kindle may use wireless connectivity to make other services available to you for which we may charge you a fee, such as personal file download and subscriptions when you are located in another country. The fees and terms for such services are located in the Kindle Store and may change from time to time.

You will note that it is "shop for and download Digital Content from the Kindle Store" that is free. Nothing else. Web browsing falls under the "other services which we may make available" bit.

blue_skies · 10-03-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Web browsing falls under the "other services which we may make available" bit.

They should have explicitly stated that web browsing may or may not be available in the future. I would not have bought it if they stated that rather than the Free Lifetime 3G they advertised.

I read what you quoted Harry, but I understood that the fees were associated with personal file delivery and subscription services.

I even started this thread five months ago to verify that the K3 3G could be used for email and news access in an emergency because that was the only reason I considered purchasing it: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=131600

So technically they may be able to wiggle out of the free lifetime 3G they advertised, but I will be livid and will consider it unethical and a breach of trust... and probably never buy another item from Amazon in the future.

geoffwood · 10-03-2011, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You will note that it is "shop for and download Digital Content from the Kindle Store" that is free. Nothing else. Web browsing falls under the "other services which we may make available" bit.

I can't argue with that, but what Amazon have done is change the equation quite significantly. In the past you paid $50 for what was relatively cheap emergency internet access, potentially useable even outside the US. For me as I travel quite a bit that was $50 well spent. Take that away and I would be paying $50 essentially just for the ability to buy content, content that I suspect Amazon makes more than enough profit on to be able to cover the bandwidth cost. As someone else pointed out earlier it is to Amazon's benefit to have the device always connected so that you are always able to make a purchase, as opposed to waiting, perhaps price shopping or second guessing the purchase.

So once i rule out the Touch 3g, and the basic Kindle due to reduced capacity and battery life, I am left with the Touch. Is it worth $99 to get a Touch kindle? Honestly, for me I don't think it is. I have a Nook Touch, I don't use touch much. The UI is better than the Kindle but i tend to turn the pages using the hardware buttons. Plus I have a 16GB Micro SD card in it and can carry a ton of books but lacks the quality feel that the Kindle's have had in the past. It feels as though it was built down to a price point.

I was hoping for a best of both worlds Kindle, a revised UI that takes advantage of the touch interface, Hardware page turning buttons and maybe even an expansion slot. Without that think I'll stick with the Nook and my Kindle 3G, at least for now.

HarryT · 10-03-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_skies

They should have explicitly stated that web browsing may or may not be available in the future. I would not have bought it if they stated that rather than the Free Lifetime 3G they advertised.

I don't think you have any cause for concern. Amazon have NOT said that they are going to change the 3G access for the K3. In fact, in one of the responses we've had quoted from Amazon's customer service, they said explicitly that it would remain, I believe.

Barty · 10-03-2011, 03:53 PM

I think everyone should chill. I don't think it's worth the bad PR and customer ire for amazon to pull 3G web browsing from existing models. It's that magical word customers all know and love: grandfathered.

The touch models it looks like will not get 3G. (That is pretty much confirmed. I suppose somebody could email Bezos, then we'd know for sure.) Understandable, since the web browser will be a bit less painful to use with touch, meaning people may actually USE the darn thing.

avatar78 · 10-03-2011, 05:56 PM

Even if it doesn't browse out of the box, maybe it can be hacked. It seems like it would be a setting that allows it to access amazon and wikipedia but not other sites, instead of a hardware limitation.

Or so I'm hoping.

tomsem · 10-03-2011, 06:24 PM

I could consider Touch 3G if there were an option to pay a monthly fee for 'unrestricted' web access as enjoyed on wifi. Given that it will not stream audio, video, do Flash, open new browser window, download anything but azw/mobi files, etc., this fee should be very low ($5/mo or less). For example, I could see making a 12 month commitment for $24/year, or something like that, just to have this option available.

While it remains to be seen, I expect that Touch's browsing experience will be much better than the Keyboard (or they wouldn't need to throttle it on 3G). So it's sad to see 3G web browsing go down without a fight...

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10-03-2011, 10:41 AM	#65
eSheri Addict Posts: 323 Karma: 1015098 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Middle of the US Device: K3+3G, Sony 350, Kindle Fire HD, iPad Mini	Class Action Suit?? Their site clearly states that 3g is to be used for Amazon shopping and for no other purposes.

10-03-2011, 11:05 AM	#68
bshar489 Addict Posts: 337 Karma: 1082346 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Device: Kindle Oasis	I had always understood the "Lifetime 3G" to mean that it would always be available for me to download books, magazines, etc to my Kindle at no charge. Unlike the sending of documents, which is free for WiFi but there is a small fee to have them sent 3G. As for the browser, I love it, hope to always have it, but I also realize that it could be pulled at any time. I figured that's why they put it under "experimental" so that if they decided to discontinue it, the Kindle Store, being separate, wouldn't be affected. I don't think Amazon "owes" me free 3G to surf the web however primitive the browser is but I'll enjoy it while I've got it. Bergette

10-03-2011, 03:53 PM	#73
Barty doofus Posts: 2,551 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	I think everyone should chill. I don't think it's worth the bad PR and customer ire for amazon to pull 3G web browsing from existing models. It's that magical word customers all know and love: grandfathered. The touch models it looks like will not get 3G. (That is pretty much confirmed. I suppose somebody could email Bezos, then we'd know for sure.) Understandable, since the web browser will be a bit less painful to use with touch, meaning people may actually USE the darn thing.

10-03-2011, 05:56 PM	#74
avatar78 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle	Even if it doesn't browse out of the box, maybe it can be hacked. It seems like it would be a setting that allows it to access amazon and wikipedia but not other sites, instead of a hardware limitation. Or so I'm hoping.

10-03-2011, 06:24 PM	#75
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,953 Karma: 27060153 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	I could consider Touch 3G if there were an option to pay a monthly fee for 'unrestricted' web access as enjoyed on wifi. Given that it will not stream audio, video, do Flash, open new browser window, download anything but azw/mobi files, etc., this fee should be very low ($5/mo or less). For example, I could see making a 12 month commitment for $24/year, or something like that, just to have this option available. While it remains to be seen, I expect that Touch's browsing experience will be much better than the Keyboard (or they wouldn't need to throttle it on 3G). So it's sad to see 3G web browsing go down without a fight...