3G

Amazon says that they will no longer allow web browsing via the free 3G network on all Kindle 3G devices. The web browser was an "experiment" for Amazon and they decided to stop it now. Surfing via Wi-Fi is still available.

Amazon announced some pretty exciting (but not surprising) new devices for us. Firstly they introduced the new Kindle Touch e-readers that feature 6" Pearl E Ink displays and an infra-red touch sensor. The Kindle Touch will launch on November 21st, but you can order it today. The Wi-Fi version costs $99 with screensaver ads and $139 without ads. The 3G version costs $149 (ads) or $189 (ads-free).

The second e-reader is the non-touch Kindle 2011 - which is a streamlined version of the older Kindle 3 - with only 5 physical buttons (beside the next/prev ones, anyway). The Wi-Fi Kindle 2011 is shipping now: $79 for the ad-supported version and $109 for the non-ads variant.

Amazon just announced that they now offer an ad-supported Kindle 3G. This will cost you $164 ($25 off the non-ad-supported Kindle 3G which costs $189). This is the same $25 Amazon took off the Wi-Fi ad-supported version.

Amazon says that the ad-supported Kindle (selling for $114) now outsells the Wi-Fi version ($139). It's probably safe to assume that the ad-supported Kindle 3G will also be selling good, and will probably become Amazon's best selling Kindle.

AT&T announced that they will begin to offer Amazon Kindle 3G devices in their 2,200 stores next month. They will charge the same price as Amazon does ($189), and they will not offer the non-3G version obviously...

Analysts estimate that AT&T collects (from Amazon) $3-$4 monthly per each Kindle that connects to their network. That seems a very high price, actually (when you consider that the Kindle costs $189 and the data is free), and is probably related to the actual data usage (i.e. when people actually use the 3G and buy books...).

There are some reports that Barnes & Noble plan to discontinue the 3G Nook. They will still sell the Nook Wi-Fi and NookColor. B&N is reportedly already winding down stock of the Nook 3G.

Currently you can still get the Nook 3G for $199. The Nook Wi-Fi costs $149 and the Nookcolor goes for $249.

Sharp's Galapagos tablet/e-readers are already shipping in Japan, and now it seems that the company have planes to release them in the US in 2010. The US models will come with 3G (in Japan they only have Wi-Fi) and ePub support (in Japan it's XMDF).

via DeviceMag

There are reports that Amazon's 3G Kindle is selling fast on the "gray" market - because the 3D internet bypasses the government great-firewall (which restricts access to sites such as facebook or twitter). Amazon is not selling the Kindle officially in China, so this have been overlooked by the Chinese authorities.

This is a strange report, as we'd assume the firewall is stopping all mobile traffic...