Kindle Keyboard 3G Web Browser

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madhuri

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Wannabe Geek

#95539 7-Jan-2012 09:39

Hi, I bought a Kindle Keyboard 3G international version direct from Amazon and selected New Zealand as an option when purchasing. It arrived yesterday and I cannot get the web browser to work at all on any websites using 3G (eg. amazon.com, google.com, etc). The following message keeps coming up: "Due to local restrictions web browsing is not available for all countries". I contacted Amazon customer support and now they are saying that 3G web browsing is not supported at all in New Zealand. Is this right? I don't understand why the 3G Kindle Keyboard is sold in New Zealand if it cannot be used here at all. I had been told prior to purchase that it does work through Vodafone NZ. What are other peoples' experiences with this? Can you use 3G web browsing in NZ? BTW, I have a NZ Amazon account.

freitasm

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#565678 7-Jan-2012 09:53

If you use a non-US account, outside the US 3G is only used for book distribution. It's not for web browsing.

madhuri

9 posts

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#565693 7-Jan-2012 11:00

So, can I create a US account to use it in New Zealand?

freitasm

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#565698 7-Jan-2012 11:17

You can but...

1.You need a US address
2.You must use a US-based credit card number (or never use a credit card, only gift vouchers)
3.Access the account over a VPN to ALWAYS connect from a US-based IP address

madhuri

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#565712 7-Jan-2012 11:47

Hmmm, all sounds a little complicated.... I don't know why they bother selling the 3G version outside the US without making it explicitly clear that you can't use the web browser over 3G with a non-US Amazon account. When I bought it, I was asked which country I would be using it in and I selected New Zealand - they should have said that the 3G web browser doesn't work there for non-US accounts. Also, when I contacted customer service to ask about 3G web browsing, they never told me I couldn't use it despite me saying I was using a New Zealand account. I suppose the best thing to do is return the Kindle Keyboard to Amazon and just buy a wireless Kindle.

freitasm

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#565718 7-Jan-2012 12:06

As I said 3G is for book distribution. The browser is in the Experimental category in the settings menu, so that's a clue right there.

Here is the Kindle 3G FAQ with more information.

"Customers living outside the United States can shop in the Kindle Store and receive English-language books and periodicals via Whispernet. Whispernet may not be available in all locations. Books are generally delivered in less than 60 seconds, but download times can vary based on 3G or EDGE/GPRS coverage, signal strength and file size.

The experimental Web browser is currently only available for some customers outside of the United States."

da5id

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#565845 7-Jan-2012 18:36

I thought the 3G could only be used for book distribution and Wikipedia for free.

kyhwana2

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#565855 7-Jan-2012 19:06

Yep, that's correct.. All you can do over 3G in NZ with the kindle3 is whispernet and wikipedia.

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psychnurse

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#574437 28-Jan-2012 16:50

In NZ you can surf the Amazon store and Wikipedia on the 3g browser.