Amazon introduced the first Kindle in 2007, but for more than 2 years its market was strictly confined to US consumers. Recently, Amazon released an ereader for the global market. Bibliophiles in over 100 English-speaking countries can now join the e-reading experience Kindle offers. Named the “Kindle with US and International Wireless,” the device is not just for international users, it’s for Americans traveling to international places, too.
Kindle With US and International Wireless: Features and Capabilities
The Kindle global wireless is a twin to the US Kindle; it is rolled out with the same features and capabilities that have made the Kindle the best-selling ereader in the US. The device sports the same white aluminum chassis and QWERTY keyboard, 6-inch screen optimized for long and comfortable reading, a quarter of an inch waistline, and an onboard storage capable of holding up to 1500 books. It, too, can stay on power for up to 2 weeks (with wireless turned off) on a single charge.
A major difference between the US and the international versions lies on the devices’ mobile internet coverage. Amazon has partnered with AT&T to provide its Kindle International a global reach; the US Kindle 2 accesses the web over the Sprint network.
With the Amazon Kindle, international readers can choose from a wide range of ebooks available on the Kindle store. Also, over 50 major US and international newspapers and over 35 magazines are available for subscription or single purchase.
Yet the Kindle with US and International Wireless is not only geared for reading; it’s also a travel guide. In addition to previously available travel guides from Frommers and Michelin, the Lonely Planet series will be available for purchase.
The International Kindle: How it can Change Reading Habits
The device is capable of downloading books within 60 seconds – no waiting for book order to arrive, no going to physical store. The biggest benefit of the international model, however, is making books more affordable. Ebook prices range from $11.99 to $13.99 only. Readers save on shipping costs, too.
Limitations of the Kindle Global Wireless
For distribution purposes, Amazon has categorized countries into three: countries that get Kindle and Whispernet but no Internet browsing; countries that get Kindle but no Whispernet and web browsing; and countries that do not get Kindle. Check the Amazon Kindle wireless coverage map to know what value to expect. Other things that international buyers need to know about the Kindle global wireless:
- Only three countries get the Kindle with Whispernet and web browsing: Japan, Mexico, and Hongkong. Blog access is also available from these countries only.
- For countries that get Whispernet but no web browsing, the free 3G connectivity can be used for over the air downloads only.
- The device can support text downloads only; newspaper and magazine images are left out.
- The international Kindle, priced at $279, costs $20 more than the standard Kindle. Interested buyers should also be prepared to shelve up to as much as 25% of the gadget price for shipping and custom duties.
- There are only 280,000 titles available for international users (this number actually varies from country to country). The US Kindle store has 350,000 ebooks available for purchase.
A US power adapter is included in the package. Prices of ebooks, newspapers, and magazines are still in the US dollars.
Cecille de la Cruz - Cecille is a health-oriented individual, and love sharing with other people the results of her research about health and wellness. You can ...
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