Amazon is taking steps to close a loophole that allowed Kindle users unlimited access to the Internet.
Users with a 3G enable Kindle could hack their e-reader devices to allow them to surf the Internet, free of charge. And while Amazon was unhappy with the practice, they couldn’t do much about it until now.
Based on user reports, it seems that Amazon is now limiting 3G access to users who tap into the Kindle’s online connectivity for unauthorized purposes.
One user reported that he got a message on his device that he would have 24 hours left to use 3G access for Web browsing, but after that he “should” only use it for Amazon.com, Wikipedia, and the Kindle Store. Amazon has not made an official comment on this latest crackdown.
The 3G service is provided by AT&T, which also has not provided any comment on this, but based on Amazon’s seemingly random crackdown, it wouldn’t be surprising if AT&T is the one that pressured Amazon to enact this measure.
You know, even though that access is there, it is only very basic, with out pictures even and it is very slow most of the time. so I don’t know anyone who would want to use it for anything more than the Kindle store or Amazon.com-it would be nice to access email on it though. I have the 2nd gen model which is about 3 years old or so. Maybe it is different with the new ones?
The problem isn’t the built in browser, which I think we can all agree is pretty lousy, but rather that hackers have found a way to use it as a tethered modem meaning that you can piggyback your laptop off of the Kindle’s 3G connection an effectively get free mobile broadband.
Of course Amazon (and AT&T) don’t want to give away that much free broadband usage so anyone found to have hacked their Kindle (an easy thing to work out as the Kindle sends unique ID) are getting their access restricted.
For once I don’t blame the companies on this one. 🙂