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.