Kindle Keyboard "unfettered" 3G - includes only current owners?

menevets · 10-25-2011, 06:56 PM

If one buys a 3G Kindle keyboard now, is the 3G the limited kind or unfettered, that is able to access anything on the internet?

By grandfathered, I interpret that to mean only current owners get unfettered internet access and buyers of the Kindle keyboard from now on only get to buy books and Wikipedia via 3G.

BrowseTheStacks · 10-25-2011, 09:57 PM

By all accounts they are only limiting the 3g on the touch kindle, because of the ease of use between the interface and the browser.

frahse · 10-25-2011, 10:18 PM

I can't be sure and don't have the time to look carefully, but it was my understanding that a new Keyboard Kindle would only work with Amazon and Wikipedia.

I did read that several times as I recall, but that was early on when the reports seemed to change from day to day. Different people at Amazon were giving out different stories on many subjects.

Again that limitation referred to:
1) Keyboard Kindle with 3G
2) New purchase.

The old Keyboard Kindles with 3G were not to be affected.
i.e. They would be unchanged.

wvcherrybomb · 10-25-2011, 11:52 PM

I was unaware that they were limiting 3G at all. So does this mean the new 3G Kindles won't have a browser and be able to surf the internet like the old ones? If this is the case, I won't even bother "upgrading." My current Kindle lets me go anywhere on the internet and I like it that way.

tubemonkey · 10-26-2011, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

I was unaware that they were limiting 3G at all. So does this mean the new 3G Kindles won't have a browser and be able to surf the internet like the old ones? If this is the case, I won't even bother "upgrading." My current Kindle lets me go anywhere on the internet and I like it that way.

The new Touch has a browser and you can still surf the net all you like on wifi. Amazon is only restricting 3G usage. No company is going to give people free, unlimited 3G access to the internet on a touch screen device. They'd be out of their minds to do so.

If you want free, unlimited 3G access to the net, stick with your K3.

tubemonkey · 10-26-2011, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrowseTheStacks

By all accounts they are only limiting the 3g on the touch kindle, because of the ease of use between the interface and the browser.

^ ^ this

wvcherrybomb · 10-26-2011, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon is only restricting 3G usage. No company is going to give people free, unlimited 3G access to the internet on a touch screen device. They'd be out of their minds to do so.

If you want free, unlimited 3G access to the net, stick with your K3.

I always kind of thought they were out of their mind to do it at all, but I wasn't complaining.

So the new "Kindle Keyboard 3G" won't have unlimited 3G either? I had planned to buy touch screen 3G for my sons for Christmas but mainly for the free 3G. I guess that's out of the question now. They don't make this clear in their descriptions so I depend on mobileread experts for this kind of thing.

BTW: 3G is important as we live in nowhere, USA with no decent internet. Our wifi comes from our seriously crappy satellite internet. Kindle and cell phone 3G is great out here.

tubemonkey · 10-26-2011, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

So the new "Kindle Keyboard 3G" won't have unlimited 3G either? I had planned to buy touch screen 3G for my sons for Christmas but mainly for the free 3G. I guess that's out of the question now. They don't make this clear in their descriptions so I depend on mobileread experts for this kind of thing.

Unlimited 3G is still available for the Kindle Keyboard 3G.

Kindle Keyboard 3G

Quote:

WebKit-Based Browser
Kindle Keyboard features an experimental web browser based on WebKit to provide a better web browsing experience. Now it's easier than ever to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle. Experimental web browsing is free.

Kindle Touch 3G

Quote:

WebKit-Based Browser
Kindle Touch 3G's experimental web browser is based on WebKit. It's easy to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle Touch 3G. Kindle Touch 3G enables you to connect to the Kindle Store and access Wikipedia - all over 3G or Wi-Fi. Experimental web browsing on other websites is only available over Wi-Fi.

slkissinger · 10-26-2011, 07:50 AM

For WVCherrybomb; one thing you may want to look into, for your specific case, is whether or not your sons' mobile phones with 3g are capable of becoming a wifi hotspot. (that depends upon the phone, and the phone's service provider). If so, they may want to experiment with getting that to work. Once that works, the KT could connect to wifi through the phone's hotspot. Sure, that would mean a power drain on two devices instead of just the Kindle, but it's something to look into.

Helgetus · 10-26-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Unlimited 3G is still available for the Kindle Keyboard 3G.

Unless you live in Germany, Austria and several other countries with a Vodafon Sim Card!

menevets · 10-26-2011, 08:31 AM

Thanks to all for the info. I wonder if the restriction is done on the hardware or software. Or both? I would think software, but then it could be hacked. If it's hardware it would be harder, but then who would go to the trouble. Anyhoo, just a stream of conscious there.

Daveoc64 · 10-26-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menevets

Thanks to all for the info. I wonder if the restriction is done on the hardware or software. Or both? I would think software, but then it could be hacked. If it's hardware it would be harder, but then who would go to the trouble. Anyhoo, just a stream of conscious there.

Based on my observations the restriction is imposed by Amazon's servers (I assume they use a proxy).

When you try and use the Kindle's data connection, it routes everything you try and browse through Amazon's proxy server.

If you are in a country where 3G browsing is allowed, the connection is allowed to continue.

If you are in a country where 3G browsing is NOT allowed, then you get a very simple one line error message (unless you try and visit Wikipedia which is enabled in many more countries).

I'm not sure about the Kindle Touch as that's not a product I've used, but it's probable that the firmware also enforces these rules to avoid confusion.

misling · 10-26-2011, 10:31 AM

Just to confirm, I've got the new Kindle Keyboard, and I can surf the net via 3G.
Oddly enough, I cannot download the new software update via 3G. Have to find a wireless spot somewhere for that. Haven't done it yet since the new features aren't that interesting.

MikeCL · 10-26-2011, 06:16 PM

not true I got my Kindle keyboard with special offers on this past Saturday and I can confirm that you can go to any site (why I got this over the other model) here is proof.

wvcherrybomb · 10-26-2011, 08:50 PM

@tubemonkey ... Thanks very much for finding that info for me. I feel a bit dense that I couldn't find that myself after reading (thoroughly, I thought) Amazon's descriptions. I appreciate you clipping the parts I needed. Karma to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slkissinger

For WVCherrybomb; one thing you may want to look into, for your specific case, is whether or not your sons' mobile phones with 3g are capable of becoming a wifi hotspot.

Thanks, that's an excellent suggestion. Unfortunately, we have to pay by usage amount on their phones. The Kindle 3G is unlimited and free and I thought it would be great .... especially on touch screen.

10-25-2011, 06:56 PM	#1
menevets Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 750010 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-300/Kindle 4 basic/iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone/Nexus 7	Kindle Keyboard "unfettered" 3G - includes only current owners? If one buys a 3G Kindle keyboard now, is the 3G the limited kind or unfettered, that is able to access anything on the internet? By grandfathered, I interpret that to mean only current owners get unfettered internet access and buyers of the Kindle keyboard from now on only get to buy books and Wikipedia via 3G.

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10-25-2011, 09:57 PM	#2
BrowseTheStacks BrowseTheStacks Posts: 127 Karma: 24316 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tampa FL Device: Kindle 3 3G + WI-FI	By all accounts they are only limiting the 3g on the touch kindle, because of the ease of use between the interface and the browser.

10-25-2011, 10:18 PM	#3
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,314 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	I can't be sure and don't have the time to look carefully, but it was my understanding that a new Keyboard Kindle would only work with Amazon and Wikipedia. I did read that several times as I recall, but that was early on when the reports seemed to change from day to day. Different people at Amazon were giving out different stories on many subjects. Again that limitation referred to: 1) Keyboard Kindle with 3G 2) New purchase. The old Keyboard Kindles with 3G were not to be affected. i.e. They would be unchanged.

10-25-2011, 11:52 PM	#4
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	I was unaware that they were limiting 3G at all. So does this mean the new 3G Kindles won't have a browser and be able to surf the internet like the old ones? If this is the case, I won't even bother "upgrading." My current Kindle lets me go anywhere on the internet and I like it that way.

10-26-2011, 07:50 AM	#9
slkissinger Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 2177726 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Multiple Kindles, Pocketbook Touch HD3, Kobo Clara HD, Xiaomi InkPalm	For WVCherrybomb; one thing you may want to look into, for your specific case, is whether or not your sons' mobile phones with 3g are capable of becoming a wifi hotspot. (that depends upon the phone, and the phone's service provider). If so, they may want to experiment with getting that to work. Once that works, the KT could connect to wifi through the phone's hotspot. Sure, that would mean a power drain on two devices instead of just the Kindle, but it's something to look into.

10-26-2011, 08:31 AM	#11
menevets Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 750010 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-300/Kindle 4 basic/iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone/Nexus 7	Thanks to all for the info. I wonder if the restriction is done on the hardware or software. Or both? I would think software, but then it could be hacked. If it's hardware it would be harder, but then who would go to the trouble. Anyhoo, just a stream of conscious there.

10-26-2011, 10:31 AM	#13
misling Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 510000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle	Just to confirm, I've got the new Kindle Keyboard, and I can surf the net via 3G. Oddly enough, I cannot download the new software update via 3G. Have to find a wireless spot somewhere for that. Haven't done it yet since the new features aren't that interesting.

10-26-2011, 06:16 PM	#14
MikeCL Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 38 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Connecticut Device: KKB-3G	not true I got my Kindle keyboard with special offers on this past Saturday and I can confirm that you can go to any site (why I got this over the other model) here is proof.