Amazon’s next-generation Kindle Touch 3G won’t support Web browsing without a WiFi connection, though users will have access to the Kindle store and Wikipedia over its 3G connection.
The company clarified the details about the new Kindle device on an Amazon forum, disappointing some users who hoped to use the device’s 3G connection to get full access to the web.
“Our new Kindle Touch 3G enables you to connect to the Kindle Store, download books and periodicals, and access Wikipedia – all over 3G or Wi-Fi,” wrote the official. “Experimental web browsing (outside of Wikipedia) on Kindle Touch 3G is only available over Wi-Fi.”
The update prompted some forum users to say they were canceling their order.
“No 3G browsing; order canceled…,” said one reader.
As Amazon covers the cost of web browsing on its e-readers, it may have determined the model isn’t cost-effective enough to support access to the entire Internet, notes Ars Technica.
The company announced the new Kindle Touch along with three other models, including its Kindle Fire tablet, last week. Customers can pre-order any of the devices, which will be release in mid-November
With the announcement, Amazon slashed the prices of all its e-readers, dropping the basic model to $79 and introducing its touchscreen versions for $99 (WiFi only) and $149 (WiFi/3G). The Fire, which incorporates an entirely new kind of browser called Amazon Silk, is priced at $199.