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

[cabbot]

Originally Posted by HarryT

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.

How many times do you need to say this in the same thread? You are a very prolific poster (hundreds of posts per month) and don't seem able to just state your opinion once, but think it need be heard over and over and over.

Regarding the 3G web browsing on the Kindle Touch 3G the simple answer is nobody at Amazon who is talking knows if it will work or not. I had a very high level technical person on the phone in Ireland and he has one in his hand attempting to put the issue to rest by trying it himself...problem was he couldn't get a 3G signal. He checked further and said that since the device isn't released yet apparently they aren't "turned on" to be allowed in the system. He said there were probably engineering samples somewhere that work for testing but he didn't have access to one. He did however send me an email the next day stating that his boss confirmed web browsing would be available over 3G still. But it doesn't end...

There has been an "official" post in the Amazon forums stating no more 3G browsing, only over WiFi but the multitude of various levels of CS have said all sorts of things. So it's still not clear since aside from the discussion board "team" stating it there has been no other verification either way.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by HarryT

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.

You might make a good expert witness for the defense. Then the lawyers take a gander at how the jury seems to be reacting, and settle before they can come in for a verdict. We members of the allegedly harmed class get a decent discount coupon, the lawyers get paid well, you get a few bob, and everyone goes home happy. America at its best

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by avatar78

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.

I don't know what the situation is where you are, but if you were to do something as foolish as that in the UK you'd probably be laying yourself open to criminal prosecution for theft of service. 3G data costs real money; using it without authorisation is a crime.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by cabbot

How many times do you need to say this in the same thread? You are a very prolific poster (hundreds of posts per month) and don't seem able to just state your opinion once, but think it need be heard over and over and over.

I'm not stating an opinion; I'm pointing out what Amazon's terms of service actually SAY, and I'll keep on doing so to whoever comes here and ignores those T&Cs. Perhaps the touch will have 3G web browsing, and perhaps it won't - time will be the judge of that. The important point is that this has NEVER been a guaranteed service, and everyone should be aware of that fact.

[markdek]

A response from Amazon on 10/4/11:

Amazon.com Customer Service cust.service03@amazon.com to me
show details 2:32 PM (2 minutes ago)
Hello,

Thanks for writing about Kindle Touch.

Kindle Touch 3G provides free 3G wireless that lets you download books right from your Kindle.

Using the experimental web browser, you’ll only be able to access Amazon.com and Wikipedia using the 3G connection.

Unrestricted web access is available only by connecting your Kindle Touch to a Wi-Fi connection.

Customer feedback like yours helps us continue to improve the service we provide, and we're glad you took time to write to us. The Kindle Team will carefully review your feedback.

Thanks for your interest in Kindle.

Thank you for your recent inquiry. Did I solve your problem?


Rasheed

[emalvick]

I find this all a bit interesting from a few points of view.

I found the browser on my Kindle to be so limited that even with the 3G I didn't feel it worked well except for Wikipedia, and in that case even I changed the settings so it would use the mobile wikipedia page.

That being said, I wonder how much data was really being passed through the 3G. A typical smart-phone data plan by ATT and Verizon seems to be limited to 2GB of data per month, but most people who get near that number on their smartphones are getting there because of video and audio content that Kindle just couldn't pass.

Do people think that the browser was generating that much traffic? especially if you average it per user? I'm sure there are some who use it a lot, but then there are many who keep the wireless turned off and rarely use it at all. It surely can't be using up the amount of data that carriers normally charge $30/2gb for.

It just seems that when it comes down to it, the 3G couldn't possibly cost that much for Amazon. But, I suppose if that were the case, they wouldn't be doing this anyway. I'm sure there are other items underneath that I don't or can't understand with regards to Amazon's 3G contracts, but given the $50 price tag to own the 3G option, I think only the biggest users are really getting that value out of their device.

[soulfuldog]

I can't believe some people are getting so annoyed about an ereader having limited web access. Buy and iPad or a Kindle Fire if that's part of your requirements and stop complaining about an experimental feature of an ereader.

[cabbot]

Your alternatives are not acceptable. An LCD device is not a substitute and neither of those options have free 3G. I am sorry you are unable to see the value of the web browser to many. I am sure people are wanting it specifically to annoy you.

I have used previous iterations of the "experimental" web browser to use Google Maps, check out tech sites and check email. Regardless of anyones' OPINION that it is unneeded I found it useful and it's absence is a deal breaker for me. If you don't like that I guess you will have to find a way to cope with a strangers views (one that doesn't affect you at all since you don't want the feature) is so distressing to you that you need to tell everyone.

Thank god for the internet where people will come and try to belittle your frustrations when they have no interest in the actual issue.

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by l_macd

Buy and iPad or a Kindle Fire if that's part of your requirements and stop complaining about an experimental feature of an ereader.

The Kindle Fire is wi-fi only. It doesn't have 3G, so that's not an option for users who don't have easy access to wi-fi. Those are the people who are most affected by this change. Some people used the Kindle (keyboard) 3G to access websites and email while traveling. Not everyone has a smartphone for 3G web-browsing/email. And many cannot afford (or do not want) an iPad.

The reason I started this thread was to educate people that the new Kindle Touch 3G does not have 3G web-browsing, as the previous Kindle models did. That matters to some (especially those without wi-fi at home/work or while traveling). For others, being able to download Amazon books via 3G is enough and for them the new Kindle Touch 3G is a great option.

[markdek]

Originally Posted by cabbot

Your alternatives are not acceptable. An LCD device is not a substitute and neither of those options have free 3G. I am sorry you are unable to see the value of the web browser to many. I am sure people are wanting it specifically to annoy you.

I have used previous iterations of the "experimental" web browser to use Google Maps, check out tech sites and check email. Regardless of anyones' OPINION that it is unneeded I found it useful and it's absence is a deal breaker for me. If you don't like that I guess you will have to find a way to cope with a strangers views (one that doesn't affect you at all since you don't want the feature) is so distressing to you that you need to tell everyone.

Thank god for the internet where people will come and try to belittle your frustrations when they have no interest in the actual issue.

Thank you...well said.

[FauxTaimer]

I'm actually going for a Kindle Keyboard because of this. No unrestricted 3G is a deal breaker for me. As much as I would LOVE touch interface and a smaller form factor, free 3G internet is just that much more valuable to me. Though, as someone else has previously said, I wonder if someone will ever hack the 3G touch to allow unrestricted access... possibly spoofing Amazon servers into believing you're on a Kindle Keyboard?

[cabbot]

Originally Posted by FauxTaimer

I'm actually going for a Kindle Keyboard because of this. No unrestricted 3G is a deal breaker for me. As much as I would LOVE touch interface and a smaller form factor, free 3G internet is just that much more valuable to me. Though, as someone else has previously said, I wonder if someone will ever hack the 3G touch to allow unrestricted access... possibly spoofing Amazon servers into believing you're on a Kindle Keyboard?

One of the self appointed "posters of righteousness" will be along shortly to tell you how WRONG this would be and how if you lived in the UK it would be illegal as well

[kranu]

Here's a simple suggestion:

What if someone were to swap the Kindle Keyboard 3G serial number with a Kindle Touch 3G? Amazon likely sends it through the same servers, and only limits what can be accessed based on serial number. This also answers most of the ethical issues, seeing as you are using the 3G service of the Kindle Keyboard, just on the Kindle Touch.

As for all of the people complaining about suing Amazon, my guess is Amazon never really intended to have the free 3G to be used like a smartphone. They hoped that it would be used mainly for wikipedia and what not, and just allowed access as a perk to convince people on the fence. As such, they have always worded that feature in very shady terms (i.e. they can take it away any time they want). You can try suing them, but I doubt you will be successful, given that they had never promised 'Lifetime 3G to any website you desire'.

[cabbot]

I am annoyed they removed it, but I don't care enough to try and sue. Amazon is not worth my time for such an involved and expensive event. I will just vote with my wallet and not shop at Amazon at all anymore. I can get everything I need elsewhere. I do however fully expect someone to "explain" to me that Amazon won't care and will still make billions etc because lets face it...people love to stick it to others and revel in their frustration.

[Heart_Mom]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

The Kindle Fire is wi-fi only. It doesn't have 3G, so that's not an option for users who don't have easy access to wi-fi. Those are the people who are most affected by this change. Some people used the Kindle (keyboard) 3G to access websites and email while traveling. Not everyone has a smartphone for 3G web-browsing/email. And many cannot afford (or do not want) an iPad.

The reason I started this thread was to educate people that the new Kindle Touch 3G does not have 3G web-browsing, as the previous Kindle models did. That matters to some (especially those without wi-fi at home/work or while traveling). For others, being able to download Amazon books via 3G is enough and for them the new Kindle Touch 3G is a great option.

I just got the Kindle Keyboard in the mail today! Thanks for your help and advice!