Kindle DX now available'worldwide' (NZ residents need not apply)

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Kindle DX now available"worldwide" (NZ residents need not apply)

DrCheese

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#55656 7-Jan-2010 15:04

Just like the original international version of the Kindle, the new Kindle DX is also not available in NZ. But Amazon "...are excited to now ship Kindle DX to..." such erudite places as Albania, the Central African Republic, and Mongolia. NZ residents can access Kindle content via a PC, which makes me think this is not a copyright licencing issue or restrictions demanded by booksellers, but rather a technological issue with access to an available 3G network. Maybe it hasn't been approved for use in NZ as a mobile device. Who knows. Is there anyone currently in "deep discussions" with Amazon and who would be willing to declare their hand?

David.

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#287810 7-Jan-2010 15:13

Towards the end of last year the Amazon Wireless coverage maps were updated to include coverage in New Zealand. If you look at these maps you would assume New Zealand had coverage.

After trying to establish whether a Kindle will actually work here I've been told it doesn't. Since the device uses an AT&T SIM for roaming this is presumably being blocked somewhere outside NZ.

Considering many countries carry the Kindle with USB only downloads this seems to make it clear to me the issue is to probably to do with book licencing rather than any mobile network issue...

On the other hand the fact NZ is shown on the coverage maps but a foreign purchased Kindle won't work here but will work in any other country with Kindle wireless coverage (you can roam with the device) it does make me wonder whether technology does play a part in it also.

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DrCheese

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#287818 7-Jan-2010 15:27

Kindle availability is apparently a complex issue that is not being shared with mere mortals. Amazon sent me a rather obtuse canned reply in response to my question about availability in NZ.

The issue of blocking AT&T SIM cards is also not clear. They claim to allow roaming on all three networks in NZ but they also state that coverage may be limited to major cities. This is probably a roaming restriction rather than a technological issue as 850 MHz is available in most populated parts of NZ and I believe this is the 3G band used by AT&T [Edit: in addition to 2100 MHZ which they employ in some large US cities]

http://www.wireless.att.com/travelguide/coverage/coverage_details.jsp?CIDL=554&MNC=CING

RodDrury

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#287836 7-Jan-2010 16:25

Be great to get to the bottom of this. A good example of NZ being on the wrong side of a growing digital divide. We simply do not have access to services available in many first world countries.

Rod

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#287848 7-Jan-2010 17:07

The most likely reason is that it's a 850/2100MHz device making it perfect for Telecom New Zealand - but seeing it's actually locked and using an AT&T SIM in roaming mode probably Telecom is being obtuse and not providing good rates for it.

I don't think it's related to book licensing.

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sbiddle

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#287854 7-Jan-2010 17:24

freitasm: The most likely reason is that it's a 850/2100MHz device making it perfect for Telecom New Zealand - but seeing it's actually locked and using an AT&T SIM in roaming mode probably Telecom is being obtuse and not providing good rates for it.

I don't think it's related to book licensing.

But why are we not allowed USB connectivity? I assume Amazon couldn't negotiate connectivity options for either Fiji or Zimbabwe yet both have USB conectivity options.

allstarnz

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#287879 7-Jan-2010 20:06

Amazon annoy me. If you are prepared to pay (the exorbitant) shipping and other associated costs, I don't see why they should stop you. It's a global economy, and if their prices are cheaper, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to buy whatever they sell from them....

sbiddle

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#287884 7-Jan-2010 20:17

allstarnz: Amazon annoy me. If you are prepared to pay (the exorbitant) shipping and other associated costs, I don't see why they should stop you. It's a global economy, and if their prices are cheaper, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to buy whatever they sell from them....

It's hardly Amazon's fault that the publishing industry is still in the 19th century and a company like Amazon has to negoiate licencing and rolatry deals with many different publishers in many different countries before something like this can be launched.

Barnes & Noble don't sell books outside the USA for exactly the same reasons.

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#287885 7-Jan-2010 20:19

Just as an update it appears that an international Kindle will actually roam in NZ and work here for downloading content. You do need to have a US Amazon account for this to work.

It seems that it's very much a royalty/licencing issue rather than anything to do with the mobile networks.

allstarnz

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#287890 7-Jan-2010 20:37

my gripe in this particular case was to do with electronics especially... books and DVD's seem to be much easier.

Kyanar

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#288450 9-Jan-2010 15:16

It is NOTHING to do with Royalty and Licensing. Amazon are able to sell you Kindle content in NZ (books, etc) for use on the Kindle reader for PC but they refuse to sell us the Device. The problem is Amazon, not the book publishers.

sbiddle

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#288457 9-Jan-2010 15:52

Kyanar: It is NOTHING to do with Royalty and Licensing. Amazon are able to sell you Kindle content in NZ (books, etc) for use on the Kindle reader for PC but they refuse to sell us the Device. The problem is Amazon, not the book publishers.

Why would Amazon not want to sell us the device?

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#288480 9-Jan-2010 18:10

Kyanar: It is NOTHING to do with Royalty and Licensing. Amazon are able to sell you Kindle content in NZ (books, etc) for use on the Kindle reader for PC but they refuse to sell us the Device. The problem is Amazon, not the book publishers.

Where did this information come from?

grant_k

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#288501 9-Jan-2010 19:54

Kyanar: It is NOTHING to do with Royalty and Licensing. Amazon are able to sell you Kindle content in NZ (books, etc) for use on the Kindle reader for PC...

I disagree. My wife tried to buy an eBook yesterday from Barnes and Noble's online store. Everything was going perfectly until it detected that we had a credit card issued by a NZ bank. Then up came a message that we were unable to purchase due to licensing restrictions.

As Sbiddle said above:

It's hardly Amazon's fault that the publishing industry is still in the 19th century

The same applies to any online book store as far as I have been able to find. If somebody finds one that will sell eBooks regardless of the purchaser's country, I would love to know about it!

DrCheese

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#288515 9-Jan-2010 20:25

grant_k: The same applies to any online book store as far as I have been able to find. If somebody finds one that will sell eBooks regardless of the purchaser's country, I would love to know about it!

OK, I can help you out. Amazon apparently does this. I quote from their web site:

"New Zealand

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship Kindles to New Zealand.

Customers in New Zealand can read over 310,000 Kindle books on your PC with our free application for your Windows PC - no Kindle required. Click here to learn more. "

I was able to download a free excerpt from Dan Brown's latest novel, plus all of "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea" using my NZ account at Amazon, directly to my iPhone Kindle app. [Edit: by WiFi]

This problem is obviously intractable given the limited amount of information that we have. Anecdotal evidence shows that there are copyright licensing restrictions, intransigence by Amazon in selling the device, and technological issues surrounding delivery of content on mobile devices. But all of this "evidence" can also be shot down without too much thought.

David.

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#288523 9-Jan-2010 20:58

It begs the question....Is there a legal difference between buying an ebook from Amazon to PC and buying via a Kindle?

I guess with the ebook PC buy you are buying off an overseas site but a Kindle book would qualify as a New Zealand based sale?

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