One of the most interesting things about the Kindle 2 International release is the fact that we now have 81 countries with wireless coverage.
The International Kindle 2 product page links to maps showing what kindle wireless coverage looks like on the different continents.
Kindle International Wireless Coverage in Europe
Kindle Europe WhisperNet is pretty widespread with lots of countries getting wireless coverage. Take a look at this kindle europe wireless coverage map (click to enlarge) -
Kindle International Wireless Coverage in Europe
It’s interesting to see that most of Western Europe and a lot of Norway and Sweden have 3G coverage. It also spreads to parts of Eastern Europe. Most of the rest of Europe has EDGE/GPRS coverage.
This is why so many European countries have Kindle International WhisperNet -
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.
Check the comprehensive list at the International Kindle 2 product page before buying the Kindle 2.
More continents after the jump … click on the images to pull up larger versions.
Kindle Wireless Coverage in USA and North America
Just to refresh ourselves this is what WhisperNet coverage is in North America -
Kindle Wireless Coverage Map for the USA
Mexico gets WhisperNet and Free Internet and Blogs. No Kindle Canada yet although Amazon says it is working on Canada.
International Kindle 2 Wireless Coverage in Asia
Asia is an interesting case as Japan and India get Whispernet (Japan even gets Free Internet) and China gets left out entirely. Here’s the Kindle International Wireless Coverage in Asia -
Kindle International Wireless Coverage in Asia
Asian countries that get the benefit of WhisperNet include -
Japan (including free Internet), Hong Kong (Free Internet for HK too), India, Philippines.
These include some of the biggest current and future book markets and it makes sense for Amazon to focus its efforts on the high reward countries, especially Japan and India’s 1 billion plus, largely English Speaking, population.
Kindle International Wireless Coverage Map for Central and South America
Central and South American countries get a lot of love from Kindle and WhisperNet -
Kindle Whispernet Coverage Map - Central and South America
The countries that get WhisperNet include -
Most of the Caribbean countries including Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados.
Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Guyana, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Most of these countries seem to have EDGE/GPRS coverage.
Kindle WhisperNet Coverage Map in Africa
The lack of WhisperNet Kindle wireless coverage in Africa is rather apparent -
Kindle Whispernet Wireless Coverage in Africa (or lack thereof)
Only Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania have whispernet coverage. Please double check your country at Amazon.
Finally, WhisperNet Wireless Coverage for Kindle Australia
Australia has very sparse kindle wireless coverage – However, its population is distributed in a rather similar pattern so it’s not as bad as it seems.
Kindle Australia only works in South Australia
It’s rather strange that New Zealand has excellent wireless coverage and yet no Kindle 2.
International Kindle WhisperNet has a $2 roaming charge per book download.
(Courtesy Damaso) Yeah – that’s $2 per book for books you download from your Archive straight to your Kindle 2.
You can avoid it by downloading to your PC and then transferring to your Kindle 2.
This kills some of the excitement. The $1 per MB charge outside of the US and this $2 roaming charge certainly indicate that Amazon is paying very heavily for wireless network use outside of the US.
On the plus side,
- We now have 174 countries the Kindle is available in.
- We now have 85 countries with WhisperNet including most of Europe, most of South America, Mexico, Japan and India.
Its becoming a Kindle World 
.
Do confirm the coverage and other details for your country at the Kindle 2 International product page.
Filed under: availability, kindle Tagged: | kindle international, kindle wireless availability
[...] Oct 7, 2009 Update: Do check out the Kindle International WhisperNet Wireless Coverage Map. [...]
[...] Yes, it will. Check out the Kindle 2 International Wireless Coverage Maps. [...]
[...] Access to the Kindle Store in 81 countries - Here’s a list of International Kindle Wireless countries and here’s the International Whispernet Wireless Coverage Map. [...]
Well Canada is now listed on the Kindle web page as covered. I bought a Kindle 2 while I was in the USA so I was very happy to see this option!
But it doesn’t work. At least not with my Kindle 2.
I guess you have to buy a new Kindle – But here’s the gotcha. They don’t SELL the international version to Canadians.
So I guess I have to wait till I’m back down there and buy a new one.
*sigh*
Bob
Bob, the WhisperNet map shows Canada – However, when you choose Canada they specifically indicate that you can’t buy it and are working on it.
Your Kindle Whispernet will not work in canada until that page starts saying it will.
The Map is actually AT&T’s coverage map and doesn’t apply to countries that Amazon says do not get whispernet.
Will the Kindle DX work with wireless networks outside of the US as well. Or is this only possible with the Kindle 2?
Thanks.
The current Kindle DX will not. amazon have confirmed an international kindle dx will be out in 2010. That will use AT&T’s network and work int he same countries as the international kindle.
[...] check the Kindle Global Review and Availability Guide for a complete list of countries. The Kindle Global Wireless Coverage post shows you the kindle global wireless coverage [...]
Why does the Australian map say that Kindle Australia only works in South Australia? The coverage map shows it working pretty much everywhere but South Australia…
Purple is the coverage area. Do check with Amazon customer service or AT&T customer service if your city is shown as not having coverage.
Apart from all benefits offered by Kindle, there is another dimension in particular which is exceptionally my favorite: e-books can save paper and fuel consumed in transportation.
Since I don’t live in US, Kindle’s wireless function does not work for me, that’s why I’m not acquiring one. But I still think Kindle is the future. Anyways, there is a contest on americanlisted.com where they are giving away the Kindle 2.
I will be in Guam for two years. Will Kindle2 work there?
yes. The wireless store and wikipedia work.
You cannot get blog subscriptions and the internet browser does not work (although Amazon have said they will add internet browser sometime in the future).
you can get newspapers and magazine subscriptions – do check on delivery charges.
you can get books delivered – they cost $11.99 instead of the $9.99 due to wireless charges.
I have a sister getting deployed to Afghanistan and I want to buy her a Kindle 2. Will she able to get wireless in Afghanistan? Is it necessary for her to have wireless or can she plug it into a computer and use it?
Thanks
Diana – it is not necessary to have wireless. She can plug the kindle via USB into a computer and get books and newspapers on the Kindle.
Afghanistan does not have wireless delivery of books. Please wish your sister luck. My good friend in Seattle got deployed in Afghanistan for a year (he spent nearly all of 2007 there) – I’ll pray for your sister.
Dear switch11,
I live in South Korea. From the map on this page, it looks like South Korea is 3G covered, but then it is still not included in the countries where Kindle is available.
So may question is, can I buy a Kindle using a US address and have it shipped to South Korea and still be able to use the 3G internet here? Thank you very much.
Gao – the wireless won’t work. Amazon do say that they have 310K books available via Kindle for PC in Republic of Korea.
That’s one option – use Kindle for PC.
If you do the ‘buy Kindle using US address’ option you will not get 3G wireless in Korea.
I got a present from a good friend of mine, a Kindle DX ….., and now, I am currently in Afghanistan. In order to read books on it, I use USB transfer … BUT, I want to know if I will be able to use these DX in Europe … Romania. I read a couple of articles and … find out that I got de US version D00611.
So, would I be able to use it in Romania?
If you have the US version of the Kindle DX then the WhisperNet won’t work in Romania.
First off I love my Kindle but Amazon sucks. There is no email for specific questions. They have a forum but with lots of people asking the same questions you can’t find any answers
My question is whether my International Kindle2 and Whisper Net will work when I am visiting the USA?
Another similar question is whether I would be billed for the books purchased in the uSA, the USA price or will the price of the same book be my homeland (Sweden) book price? They are different!
Carter, your international kindle 2 and whispernet will both work in the US.
You will be billed the price in Sweden and also charged $2 for wireless delivery. To avoid this go to the Manage My Kindle section and change your country to US just before leaving Sweden. Then you get US prices and delivery in the US is free.
Dear switch11,
I live in Istanbul,Turkey. We have already 3G here but in the coverage map it seems Edge for Turkey. Personally i like the kindle and its usage battery time is very good and handy, but i see that there is no support for kindle here. I always see Turkey as a good market and technologically interested country and one of the leading country in the area but i see now Amazon Kindle is not available in Turkey somehow out of 130 countries appr. What are the trends of the international policies for expanding this service to the world? I know that there are roaming and custom issues and one leg is also press but what is the real problem here, apparently its not technological. Thank you.
Enver, china and a lot of muslim countries are not supported. it might have to do with censoring issues.
hello switch11,
Thank you for your message however,
is it about censorship for amazon.com or else? Because i dont know other muslim countries or China but in Turkey you can enter amazon.com or similar websites just with a click from anywhere. Actually there are too few censorship and if there is one, there is also a court verdict on about it which is based on constitution law of the state here. Anyone can search about it on net. So what do you mean with censoring issues?
If you look at what’s happening in China with censored search or what happened with certain authors you have to think any company selling books would leave countries with censoring for last.
Dear Enver
I totally agree with you that Turkey would be a good market for any technology. I am on vacation now, and whoever saw me reading my Kindle were very much interested. However, I can’t download any of my archieved items, since there is no coverage here. I hope by next year Turkey will have coverage.
Dear Canan,
I am already used to usb cable of my kindle.
But you can enter to wikipedia in Turkey otherwise there is none you can do about it here. I rarely enter to the internet here and most of time i close 3G because it spends a lot energy so battery life. On the other hand Kindle is very good for reading but the extra functions like internet and voice reading need some revising due to their aberrant slowness for activation times.. Maybe that new black 2nd gen. may be better…:) i dont know.. But what i most want to have here is to be able to buy books over internet..It would be nice…
here is my email address if you have further questions about the usage in Turkey: tughan_a@hotmail.com
Dear Enver
I was looking for some people who is in the same pot with me about Kindle. Coverage issue is quite demoralising. Are you able to get the copy-free downloads for instance the classics, cause I assume if there is no payment transactions we should be able to get those in the least. (I am in Istanbul). Another issue is, does it matter whether we buy US version of Kindles or Europe for example?
Galya, it does matter the version of Kindle you buy.. If you want to use Kindle globally you should not get US. version. And when you go a country including coverage you should choose that country from your Kindle seetings in the internet before you go there to get benefits of coverage as far as i know. You cant enter other than http://www.wikipedia.com in Turkey means you cant download anything what wikipedia site doesnt have..so you should use usb connection for your Kindle to get what you got from internet to your PC.
I havea new kindle uk version. Will I be able to use it in Jamaica ? Will I be able to download books for it whilst I am there ? Many thanks for your help.
Yes, Kindle International will work in Jamaica – if you bought a Kindle that was delivered to UK and works there then you have an international kindle.
Yes you can download books when in Jamaica but they cost $2 per download – This includes archived books.
You can avoid this fee by using a computer.
If you are using your USA kindle in Europe, are there additional charges for using the 3G networks, or is the cost included in the Amazon.com International content quoted price?
I know that if you have an I-phone registered in USA which also uses ATT, then you need to pay extra roaming fees or find a way to hack your phone to use a local network, which leads me to my second question:
Also if one was moving to Europe with your USA Kindle, would you be able to purchase USA Amazon books or would you need to purchase an Kindle in Europe which is set up for local use.
There are two Kindles.
The Kindle 2 US which used to be sold till end of last year.
The one sold now which is referred to as Kindle Global Wireless or Kindle International.
If you have the Kindle 2 US it won’t work for wireless outside the US.
If you have the Kindle International -
1) Web browsing is free outside the US if your home country is US. Ditto browsing the store and Wikipedia.
2) If your home country is US then you get charged US prices + $1.999 delivery charge outside the US. This is also charged on books you have bought previously if you download them wirelessly.
3) If you change your home country to another country, say UK, you would get ebooks at prices for that country and not have to pay the $2 wireless charge. However, if you travel to any other country (including US) and downloaded there you’d get price in your home country + $2 download charge.
You do not get free Internet browsing if your home country is not US.
If you’re considering a Kindle and will be travelling or moving only go for the Global Wireless version.
Works everywhere
switch thanks for the clarification. Can you also clarify a few points:
1.When you say web or internet browsing do you mean using a wireless network or plugging into a PC via USB or other connection?
2. I have read that you can plug the Kindle into a PC as above and order directly from Amazon,hence no wireless fees, is this correct?
3. If I am plugged in via PC, can I choose which Amazon book store to use? When I buy books in Europe, I can choose whether to use Amazon USA (cheaper books, higher shipping charge) or Amazon UK (more expensive books, cheaper shipping). Does it work this way with a Kindle, or are all titles equally priced both in USA and internationally?
1. Using AT&T’s international network.
2. Yes. Go to Amazon.com and buy the book. Then plug in Kindle and go to Manage My Kindle section and download book to Kindle.
Then you can avoid the $2 fee.
3. You can choose the store. However, it’s best to pick one store and stick to it unless you actually move. There are Different Prices.
If your home country is US -> then there is no wireless delivery fee for books downloaded to PC when outside the US.
If it isn’t -> then you pay the price listed in the store in the other country. It’s usually higher.
Prices tend to be cheaper in the US Kindle store.
Thanks again switch11, one more question please: if I buy the book through Amazon website on my PC, do I still have to download via wireless ( ATT or European partner network)? Can I download from Amazon to my PC and then plug my kindle in to download from the PC?
Yes, you can download via your PC’s Internet Connection and then transfer to Kindle via USB.
switch 11 you are precious, I hope Mr Bezos compensates you adequately for your seemingly 7/24 support. After holding out for years to wait for the e-reader technology to get better I am sold on the Kindle Global Version (or the DX if my budget can support it), 2 more questions please:
1. since there is yet no memory expansion port can you transfer kindle files in your PC or USB memory stick for future download and reading on the Kindle?
2. If I buy my kindle in US to take advantage of USA book prices and free wireless, and then move to Europe, is it easy to de-register my US address and re-register in Europe with a different credit card?
PC – yes. Memory stick you would have to do the transfer via the PC.
Amazon also keeps a backup of all your books in their Cloud (servers). However, outside your home country the same $2 per download fee would kick in. Downloads from your ‘Archive’ can be done via PC using the Manage my Kindle page.
I know it’s easy to de-register and then register again – there’s a setting in the Manage My Kindle page to change your country. This is what Amazon say about the credit card part –
I thought I had exhausted my questions, but I do have one more. If I have a friend purchase my Kindle in USA and load it with a selection of books using his account, then bring it to Europe for me, will there be any problem to de-register from his account name and register a new one in my name?
no. You can de-register the kindle from his account and register to your account. The books won’t be shared though.
You should buy books from your own account. They get lost if you change accounts.
Considering the Kindle International for my dad who resides in Venezuela part time. It appears the area he lives in is covered by the Edge network.
Questions:
1. If the Kindle is registered here as dad’s “home country” since he lives in U.S. part time, it is true that he can web browse for free?
2. All books that he downloads while in U.S. will NOT incur the $1.99 additional charge, but he will incur the additional charge if downloading out of the country?
3. Any other charges?
Jo,
1. Yes, he would be able to browse the web for free. However, haven’t tested it in Venezuela. Only in Canada and India and the Net works if you’re registered as US.
2. Yes. He would get that extra $1.99 charge if he downloaded in venzuela.
3. Any subscriptions he would get in Venezueela would get a pretty expensive delivery charge – think it’s $4.99 per week.
Nothing else comes to mind in terms of extra charges.
thanks , switch!
does the French island of St Barts have coverage
Nope.
I just began downloaded a subscription for USA Today to my Kindle. I am leaving for Italy next week and I see that there is Whispernet there, but do I have to do something else to continue getting the subscription? Do I need to have a different country access code or something?
Thanks
Bev, there’s a pretty high charge to get subscriptions delivered outside the US.
Not sure of the exact process. If You connect via WiFi and then download you won’t be charged – via 3G you will.
Best would be downloading to a PC and then transferring to Kindle. Checking with Amazon Kindle customer service would be best.
I am going to Australia and New Zealand, I have a Kindle “new” or Kindle 3 with wifi and 3G. Will the 3G allow me to web browse FOR FREE while I am in Australia and New Zealand? Hard to believe!!!
Yes, if you’re in the coverage area.
I would like to send a Kindle to someone on the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey (Adana, Turkey). Will it work there?
Yes, but the wireless probably won’t. So whoever you send it to will have to download books via a PC or laptop.
I am considering buying the Kindle Wi-Fi $139. Please explain how this will work in Jamaica.
I have a wifi router at home.
Enter your WiFi information to Kindle WiFi and it’ll log to your home network, through it to Internet and Amazon’s whispernet.
Then you get to browse the store, buy and download books, and surf the Net.
Switch,
If I give a gift of the new Kindle 3G+WiFi to someone in Australia (which would be the home country for the user) can it be used normally as it would here in the States for a US based customer? i.e. do they have to pay an additional costs to use the Whispernet, or does the cost of whatever book they download reflect the total charges they will have to pay? Thanks
There are different book prices set by Publishers. In addition there is a WhisperNet fee baked into each book price.
Use of Kindle Store is free.
Wikipedia is available free over Whispernet (Amazon’s network).
Browsing is only available via WiFi.
Hi switch
İ live in İstanbul, Turkey and İ am interested in buying the wifi only version of Kindle 3. Can İ download books via wifi without using my PC? Turkey isn’t in the coverage area but will wifi work?
Thank you
WiFi should work.
Hi there.
I’m about to take a trip to australia. I have the Kindle 2 and a few questions -
1. is the international capability already there or do I have to install/pay for something?
2. if i do not plan to download new books, only read the ones I have, will I need to install or do anything?
and lastly,
3. if I want to read what I already own, do I still have to do the whole computer to kindle transfer and accrue the charge?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Depends on whether you have a Kindle 2 (bought between Feb 2009 and around October 2009) or a Kindle 2 international (bought after around Sept/Oct 2009). If it’s the former then the wireless won’t work as it uses Sprint. If it’s the latter then it will work in Australia wherever there’s AT&T’s network or an AT&T partner network.
2. You won’t need to do anything if you only want to read books already on the Kindle.
3. No, you can download to a PC, and then transfer it over. If you download via your archive that might be free. Not sure about that. Emailing to your Kindle will have a charge.
Hi switch,
I bought a Kindle 3 WiFi but the shop doesn’t work. Shall I enter a US adresse?( By the way, I live in Turkey.)
You would have to choose US as your country. It’s sort of illegal but …
I live on the NW coast of Haiti most of the time. Several of my colleagues have Kindles(both K2 and K3). We used to have great EDGE service here, but around December, something changed with the local provider(s) and now we have no Whispernet at all.
Very frustrating. Amazon was unhelpful. The mobile providers are unhelpful.
Will Kindle work in Spain? Can I buy books on line? Does anyone know the cost to connect? Thank you!
Yes, it will. Yes, you can. The cost is factored into the book prices which are a bit higher.
There is no free Internet in spain – to the best of my knowledge. The kindle product page is the best source for the latest information. Scroll down to the Details and there’s a link for a pop-up that provides country by country information.
Hi,
I want to buy some books which are technically not available in India where i live. However, if i ask a friend in the U.S. to log into Amazon with my account and further ask him change my country to India, can he buy books via my credit card registered in India, to his computer on the Kindle for PC App and then transfer the Kindle e-book file to me via e-mail ?
Venky
Can’t really help you with that. What you’re saying would probably work but it’s probably illegal.
Hi
I am living in USA at the moment, but are going to move back home to Norway in a couple of months. Would it be possible for me to buy a kindle here in america, and use it as normal in norway? I don’t necessarily have to be able to purchase norwegian books, though that would be good…
Thank you
Yes.
once you move back to Norway you have two options -
1) Leave US as your home country and get US prices but book downloads might have a charge. You’ll have to check details for what downloads cost when travelling. You also get free Internet.
2) Set Norway as your home country and get Norway prices and free downloads of books. You might not get free Internet based on Norway Kindle service details.
thanks for the above information.
I recently purchased a Kindle 3G with the hope that the ‘international’ coverage offered meant international coverage. The reason I valued this is because i will be in Zambia for a year and thought that with the KIndle i would in an amazing way have my own personal library with me.
Alas, it seems there is no 3G coverage in Zambia – does this mean my kindle is useless there? can i download and sore books anywhere?
Eoin
Eoin, you can use a computer to download books and then transfer to Kindle via PC. 3G is only needed for downloading books – reading you can do without it. And even downloading books you can do via PC.
great! thanks for that Switch11…#
I’m living in US and would like to buy the kindle wi-fi to my mum that lives in Israel. Is it going to work? can she download books from amazon to her kindle in Israel?
hi there
i want to get one of these books,but i’m not sure if it’s gonna work in russia?i mean can i diwnload russian books in kindle?
Maria, support for Cyrilic fonts is not present. You would have to go to a site like MobileRead.com and read up about the font hack that allows Kindle to support Cyrilc fonts.
Once you apply the font hack then you could read Russian Books without any issues.