Amazon Kindles Relying on 2G and 3G Connectivity Are About to Lose Internet Access
Published on July 29, 2021
- Amazon is giving its early Kindle customers a $50 coupon to buy a new ebook reader.
- The older models will lose access to the internet because U.S. carriers will pull the plug on 2G and 3G.
- Some will continue to connect via WiFi, but three popular models won’t have a choice.
Amazon warns that older Kindle ebook readers will lose access to the internet in December 2021, which is only five months away. These devices rely on 2G and 3G internet cellular connection, and in the U.S., carriers are to gradually sunset these older network protocols in 2022.
As such, Amazon can do nothing in terms of continuing to support these older devices. Instead, the company is to offer $50 off a new Kindle Paperwhite, or Oasis purchase in the form of a coupon sent to those early customers, as well as $15 for purchasing ebooks.
The devices that will be shut off without having any alternative way to connect are the first and second generation of the Kindle and the second generation of the Kindle DX. Those that may continue to connect on the internet but only via WiFi are the following:
- Kindle Keyboard (3rd Generation)
- Kindle Touch (4th Generation)
- Kindle Paperwhite (5th Generation)/(6th Generation)/(7th Generation)
- Kindle Voyage (7th Generation)
- Kindle Oasis (8th Generation)
If you’re not sure about which version you’re rocking, find help on how to identify your model on this webpage. If it’s an old model, you may either trade in it or give it to Amazon for recycling. The first and second generations of the Kindle came out in 2007 and 2009, respectively, so you’ve been using them for almost 15 years now.
Upgrading to something newer wouldn’t be a bad idea as you’ll get to enjoy higher resolution displays, faster performance, more internal storage, more comfortable screens, lighter chassis, and a longer-lasting battery for sure.
The dephasing of 2G and 3G networks in the United States isn’t affecting only ebook readers, though. According to data from OpenSignal, collected in 2019, roughly 30 million Americans still rely on the obsolete network bands to connect to the internet. Statista gives an estimated 12% market share for 2021 in North America.
Whatever the actual figure is, it’s a pretty sizeable one. When carriers pull the plug, millions of old smartphones and “dumbphones” will go dark. For the full list of what’s going to happen with each model, check out this page.
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