Amazon Kindle goes international - Page 13

Scott Nielsen · 10-08-2009, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reader1

I was glad to hear the latest news of the launch of Kindle International today. However when I look at the list of the countries that you ship Kindle to, I was flabbergasted that included countries like CONGO & RWANDA and yet missing out SINGAPORE!!

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact wireless downloads would stop the SG government from attempting to control what you are reading. I'm not saying this is the case, just that it's a possibility.

When you purchase paper books from Amazon and have them delivered to SG, the SG customs do check every single item against the banned books list while also ensuring you are not bringing in anything, erm, naughty.

neilmarr · 10-08-2009, 02:51 AM

Could be, Scott. But what about Canada?

Sweetpea · 10-08-2009, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Could be, Scott. But what about Canada?

I think it's just a matter of not being able to broker a deal with a provider. If you look, you'll see a a few sparkly white spots on the map in Europe too.

neilmarr · 10-08-2009, 03:27 AM

Hmmm ... Monaco is two miles from where I live in France, Sweetpea, but to all intents and purposes it's a different country (not even in the EU). My wife is at work there right now, but when I phone her, it's an international call (mind you, so is Italy, which is just a couple of miles in the opposite direction). Monaco is too small to show on the relevant coverage maps -- about the same area as Central Park -- but I'll look into it just for interest and report back. Cheers. Neil

neilmarr · 10-08-2009, 03:33 AM

Yup, you can order yourself a Kindle from Monaco ... but unlike in France itself, there's no wireless connectivity. One of the wealthiest couple of acres in the world, very tech-savvy and supporting three thriving English-language brick-and-mortar book stores (where titles are often sold at near-as-dammit double RRP). Seems an odd miss, eh? Hoots. N

Sweetpea · 10-08-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Yup, you can order yourself a Kindle from Monaco ... but unlike in France itself, there's no wireless connectivity. One of the wealthiest couple of acres in the world, very tech-savvy and supporting three thriving English-language brick-and-mortar book stores (where titles are often sold at near-as-dammit double RRP). Seems an odd miss, eh? Hoots. N

So, no roaming partner for AT&T there... Probably too cheap

inuyashaohki · 10-08-2009, 04:20 AM

Since I ordered my new baby(Kindle International) yesterday too I saw that there was a complainment about the 1.99$ charge in addition to the "higher" book prices and nearly cancelled my order...

Then after reading the below entry and the other stuff on page 12:
"Free 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle. No monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. For non-U.S. customers, there are also no additional charges for wireless delivery outside your home country."
I'm relieved...

Only US travellers pay less for their books but then 1.99$ extra and as a German customer I don't have to pay extra :-)

Can't wait for my business travel to the US end of this month to fetch mine personally

andothfc · 10-08-2009, 04:35 AM

I cancelled my UK order. I was willing to pay the premium price (once you factored in tax and import and a cover it was about $430) but the book choice in the UK is not good enough to justify that.

I'm interested in WWII history and doing a search in the US store showed they have many of the standard texts on the subject. However, switch to the UK and they vanish and all that's left is third rate trash similar to that which they have elsewhere.

On that basis (and given I already have a 505) I'm content to wait it out until it comes to the UK store and there is a much better selection of books.

neilmarr · 10-08-2009, 04:40 AM

Picking it up yourself makes some difference, Inuya -- no post and package to pay, no local customs duty. But don't forget to also snag the necessary Kindle-specific adapter/s for use in non-US countries. Where will you register the device? Good luck and happy reading. N

HarryT · 10-08-2009, 04:40 AM

Bear in mind, though, that this is just a "starting point" as far as the UK (and the rest of Europe) goes. They will undoubtedly get UK publishers "on board" as time goes on, and improve the selection.

neilmarr · 10-08-2009, 05:05 AM

***They will undoubtedly get UK publishers "on board" as time goes on, and improve the selection***

My own small indie publishing house is UK registered, Harry, and we're told that
Amazon -- which carries all our paperbacks, but not the digital versions since Kindle first launched -- still has no plans to start selling ebooks from publishers without a registered US presence; tax and social security numbers, US banking and landmail address and what have you.

To give Amazon some due, this is partly a bureaucratic hitch (which they could get around if they tried, I guess). Thing is with treebooks is that point of sale is agreed as Seattle, though not all treebooks are actually sent from there; in fact, Amazon orders are often filled direct from UK print shops and distributors and never have to cross the shining big sea water. With ebooks, though, governments say point of sale is actually your PC or the actual location from which an order is placed and an ebook downloaded.

(This is why Amazon makes a big song and dance about their two dollar cover price loading in the UK "including VAT". Actually, as Amazon proved when it withdrew books from Kindle owners in the US, ebooks are not 'purchases' but 'licences' and are taxed -- not as 'goods' at 19% as the Amazon loading seems to reflect, but as 'services', which carry only 6% VAT. Where does the other buck and a half go?

Anyway ... the point of sale issue means that some larger publishers can (and Amazon must) slap geographical restrictions on many titles. Doesn't apply to my own BeWrite Books because we publish in a single international edition -- sans frontier. We're just caught in the big boys' crossfire.

Cheers. Neil

HarryT · 10-08-2009, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

My own small indie publishing house is UK registered, Harry, and we're told that
Amazon -- which carries all our paperbacks, but not the digital versions since Kindle first launched -- still has no plans to start selling ebooks from publishers without a registered US presence; tax and social security numbers, US banking and landmail address and what have you.

With respect, Neil, I have already told you - and demonstrated to you - that this is not the case. You can get your books into the Kindle eBook Store by uploading them to Mobipocket, who accept publishers from anywhere in the world. I have done so myself.

inuyashaohki · 10-08-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Picking it up yourself makes some difference, Inuya -- no post and package to pay, no local customs duty. But don't forget to also snag the necessary Kindle-specific adapter/s for use in non-US countries. Where will you register the device? Good luck and happy reading. N

If possible it will be a US registration since I can download stuff via USB if it's not urgent without extra delivery costs of 1.99. If it's urgent it's only 1.99$ more but the prices will be approx 1.99$ cheaper than the German prices ;-)

Not to forgotten that the webbrowser might work too then

neilmarr · 10-08-2009, 05:47 AM

Good luck, Inuya; sounds like you've got it cracked.

And thanks, Harry. I passed on your suggestion to our two techies (one in Germany and one in Canada) and they're working on the MobiPocket idea as well as ePub. We're looking at converting nearly 150 titles, though. And I guess I'll have to re-proof each title in its new format. It might take a wee while.

Your sound advice, though, is very, very much appreciated. Joining MR has been a real eye-opener for me. I'm no technotop -- just a jobbing wordsmith -- and I seem to learn something new here every day.

By the way, if anyone -- particularly in the UK -- is considering an international Kindle, it might be worth taking a look at this piece from the Daily Telegraph this morning: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...expensive.html

Best wishes. Neil

igorsk · 10-08-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

With respect, Neil, I have already told you - and demonstrated to you - that this is not the case. You can get your books into the Kindle eBook Store by uploading them to Mobipocket, who accept publishers from anywhere in the world. I have done so myself.

Except Mobipocket stopped accepting new publishers.

10-08-2009, 04:20 AM	#187
inuyashaohki Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	Since I ordered my new baby(Kindle International) yesterday too I saw that there was a complainment about the 1.99$ charge in addition to the "higher" book prices and nearly cancelled my order... Then after reading the below entry and the other stuff on page 12: "Free 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle. No monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. For non-U.S. customers, there are also no additional charges for wireless delivery outside your home country." I'm relieved... Only US travellers pay less for their books but then 1.99$ extra and as a German customer I don't have to pay extra :-) Can't wait for my business travel to the US end of this month to fetch mine personally Last edited by inuyashaohki; 10-08-2009 at 04:23 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ended FS: Kindle2 International w/Amazon case	Quake1028	Flea Market	1	07-29-2010 11:02 AM
How can an international user buy and use Amazon Kindle?	Over	Amazon Kindle	16	10-29-2009 06:17 PM
Amazon Kills U.S. Kindle, Cuts International Price	orion2001	News	45	10-27-2009 05:26 AM
Amazon is lowering the price of Kindle International to $259	kanon	Amazon Kindle	28	10-24-2009 06:21 PM
Amazon confirms international Kindle DX	balend	News	2	10-09-2009 04:25 PM

10-08-2009, 02:51 AM	#182
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Could be, Scott. But what about Canada?

10-08-2009, 03:27 AM	#184
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Hmmm ... Monaco is two miles from where I live in France, Sweetpea, but to all intents and purposes it's a different country (not even in the EU). My wife is at work there right now, but when I phone her, it's an international call (mind you, so is Italy, which is just a couple of miles in the opposite direction). Monaco is too small to show on the relevant coverage maps -- about the same area as Central Park -- but I'll look into it just for interest and report back. Cheers. Neil

10-08-2009, 03:33 AM	#185
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Yup, you can order yourself a Kindle from Monaco ... but unlike in France itself, there's no wireless connectivity. One of the wealthiest couple of acres in the world, very tech-savvy and supporting three thriving English-language brick-and-mortar book stores (where titles are often sold at near-as-dammit double RRP). Seems an odd miss, eh? Hoots. N

10-08-2009, 04:35 AM	#188
andothfc Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle	I cancelled my UK order. I was willing to pay the premium price (once you factored in tax and import and a cover it was about $430) but the book choice in the UK is not good enough to justify that. I'm interested in WWII history and doing a search in the US store showed they have many of the standard texts on the subject. However, switch to the UK and they vanish and all that's left is third rate trash similar to that which they have elsewhere. On that basis (and given I already have a 505) I'm content to wait it out until it comes to the UK store and there is a much better selection of books.

10-08-2009, 04:40 AM	#189
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Picking it up yourself makes some difference, Inuya -- no post and package to pay, no local customs duty. But don't forget to also snag the necessary Kindle-specific adapter/s for use in non-US countries. Where will you register the device? Good luck and happy reading. N

10-08-2009, 04:40 AM	#190
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Bear in mind, though, that this is just a "starting point" as far as the UK (and the rest of Europe) goes. They will undoubtedly get UK publishers "on board" as time goes on, and improve the selection.

10-08-2009, 05:05 AM	#191
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*They will undoubtedly get UK publishers "on board" as time goes on, and improve the selection* My own small indie publishing house is UK registered, Harry, and we're told that Amazon -- which carries all our paperbacks, but not the digital versions since Kindle first launched -- still has no plans to start selling ebooks from publishers without a registered US presence; tax and social security numbers, US banking and landmail address and what have you. To give Amazon some due, this is partly a bureaucratic hitch (which they could get around if they tried, I guess). Thing is with treebooks is that point of sale is agreed as Seattle, though not all treebooks are actually sent from there; in fact, Amazon orders are often filled direct from UK print shops and distributors and never have to cross the shining big sea water. With ebooks, though, governments say point of sale is actually your PC or the actual location from which an order is placed and an ebook downloaded. (This is why Amazon makes a big song and dance about their two dollar cover price loading in the UK "including VAT". Actually, as Amazon proved when it withdrew books from Kindle owners in the US, ebooks are not 'purchases' but 'licences' and are taxed -- not as 'goods' at 19% as the Amazon loading seems to reflect, but as 'services', which carry only 6% VAT. Where does the other buck and a half go? Anyway ... the point of sale issue means that some larger publishers can (and Amazon must) slap geographical restrictions on many titles. Doesn't apply to my own BeWrite Books because we publish in a single international edition -- sans frontier. We're just caught in the big boys' crossfire. Cheers. Neil

10-08-2009, 05:47 AM	#194
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good luck, Inuya; sounds like you've got it cracked. And thanks, Harry. I passed on your suggestion to our two techies (one in Germany and one in Canada) and they're working on the MobiPocket idea as well as ePub. We're looking at converting nearly 150 titles, though. And I guess I'll have to re-proof each title in its new format. It might take a wee while. Your sound advice, though, is very, very much appreciated. Joining MR has been a real eye-opener for me. I'm no technotop -- just a jobbing wordsmith -- and I seem to learn something new here every day. By the way, if anyone -- particularly in the UK -- is considering an international Kindle, it might be worth taking a look at this piece from the Daily Telegraph this morning: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...expensive.html Best wishes. Neil

Advert

Advert