I just ordered a low end Kindle 4, for delivery tomorrow, because I wanted to see how these “special offers” work. I also wanted a spare, small unit to carry around on those times where electronics are subject to the chance of breakage. It’s interesting that Amazon’s new pricing turns this into a purely impulse purchase.
In checking out the features on the new unit I came across this:
Free Access at AT&T Hotspots
Enjoy free Wi-Fi access at AT&T hotspots across the U.S. for shopping and downloading Kindle content — no AT&T registration, sign-in, or password required.
Amazon is looking at everything to make the consumer experience pleasant. I’ll play with the unit over the weekend and report on Monday.
Perhaps a little ironically, the free wifi at Barnes & Nobles is provided by (no-registration-required) AT&T hotspots.
The hardest part with all these wi-fi only deals is:
Some areas (like mine) don’t have wifi. 🙁
Actually, this feature has been present since the Wifi kindles first came out. I have been using the free AT&T wifi with my kindle 3 (keyboard) since I got it last year.
It’s March 22, 2012. I have a Kindle keyboard model and after having it work fine with AT&T hotspots it suddenly refuses to connect at them at all. So the local Barnes & Noble, Starbucks and even the public library, where my Kindle used to access wi-fi just fine, now it won’t. It still connects to the home wireless and (so far) other coffee shop, etc. (non AT&T) hotspots. Just wondering if anyone turning up at this board has had or heard of anyone having a similar problem. The help line at Amazon is clueless and no help at all. The tech person at the library could not figure it out. He suggested I call AT & T.