If you own an old Kindle e-reader and paid extra for that free cellular connectivity, prepare to bid it farewell. Amazon is warning owners of nine models of Kindle that their 3G connectivity is set to stop working in the US in December.
Amazon has been selling Kindle e-readers for 13 years now, and unlike other devices, even the oldest models remain useful due to their main focus being to act like a book. However, Amazon can't control what the mobile networks do, and 2G and 3G networks are being shut down this year. As The Verge reports, that means any Kindle model with 3G connectivity will no longer be able to use it, but Wi-Fi access will continue to work if it's available.
The affected models include:
- Kindle (1st and 2nd Generation)
- Kindle DX (2nd Generation)
- Kindle Keyboard (3rd Generation)
- Kindle Touch (4th Generation)
- Kindle Paperwhite (5th, 6th, and 7th Generation)
- Kindle Oasis (8th Generation)
The Kindle and Kindle DX models in the list will no longer be able to connect to the internet, but all the other models can continue to do so using a Wi-Fi connection. If you don't know which model you own, Amazon has an "Identify Your Kindle E-Reader" page to help figure it out.
This isn't something Amazon really needs to apologize for because it's out of the company's control. However, it's sending out a warning message to registered users who own one of the affected models and is offering them $15 in credit for ebooks and $50 off a new Kindle Paperwhite ($129.99) or Kindle Oasis ($249.99) using the code NEWKINDLE50.