Major telecommunication carriers will be shuttering their 3G networks by the end of the year and early next year. These networks are responsible for powering the internet access of various Kindle 3G e-readers. The vast majority of these devices have WIFI, so they can connect to the Kindle Store to buy digital content, but some won't be able to. How do you know if your 3G Kindle will be supported when the existing 3G networks are sunsetted?
- E-Readers that won't be able to connect via 3G
- Kindle 1st generation
- Kindle 2nd generation
- Kindle DX
These e-readers rely on 3G and 2G internet access and do not have WIFi. The only way you will be able to get ebooks going forward, is if you sideload them with a Micro USB cable.
Amazon has sent out a email to owners of these devices and are providing a $70 discount on a new Kindle Paperwhite 4 or Kindle Oasis 3, which has 4G/LTE internet access. They are sweetening the deal by also offering $25 in ebook credit.
What Kindle models will still be able to connect via WIFI?
- Kindle Touch 4th Generation
- Kindle Paperwhite 1 - 5th Generation
- Kindle Paperwhite 2 - 6th Generation
- Kindle Paperwhite 3 - 7th Generation
- Kindle Voyage - 7th Generation
- Kindle Oasis 1 - 8th Generation
- Kindle Oasis 2 - 9th Generation
These models have 3G internet access that will stop working by the end of the year. Amazon is sending emails out to customers who still use these models and providing them with a $50 discount on the Kindle Paperwhite 4 or Kindle Oasis 3, which use 4G/LTE internet. They are providing a $15 free ebook voucher.
What Kindle e-readers will still be able to connect to the internet?
- Kindle Paperwhite - 10th Generation
- Kindle Oasis - 10th Generation
These e-readers do not use 3G internet, but 4G/LTE. There is no risk of these networks being shutdown for at least 15-20 years. So if you upgrade to one of these models, or are considering buying a Kindle for the first time, go with one of these.