Amazon announces ad-supported Kindle 3G

By Trevor Mogg Published May 24, 2011

With news being public for a while now that Barnes & Noble was going to be releasing a new e-reader, Amazon will have had ample time to prepare its response. And here it is: an ad-supported Kindle 3G.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, just hours after Barnes & Noble unveiled its new Nook Simple Touch e-reader, Amazon announced the release of the Kindle 3G With Special Offers, coming in at $164, which is $25 less than the cost of the regular Kindle 3G.

Like the Wi-Fi Kindle With Special Offers, currently priced at $114, the Kindle 3G With Special Offers means that anyone opting for the device will have to be comfortable about the inclusion of a few ads with their daily read.

Amazon’s Jay Marine said of the new product: “You will get all the features readers love about Kindle 3G – free 3G wireless, global wireless access, Pearl electronic ink display that’s easy to read even in bright sunlight.” And some ads.

The e-reader market is certainly hotting up just now, with Kobo recently announcing its new Kobo eReader Touch, priced at $129.99 and available early June. Then on Tuesday, from bookseller Barnes & Noble, came the Nook Simple Touch e-reader. Its new device is priced at $139 and shipping is scheduled to begin around June 10.

Of these three e-readers, only the Kindle lacks touchscreen capability. The new Nook and Kobo e-readers, however, have no 3G.

Amazon will be hoping the price of the ad-supported Kindle 3G will be enough to keep potential customers from taking too much interest in the offerings of its competitors. Anyone interested in the new device will be pleased to learn that it’s available from today.

The first Kindle was released in 2007 and the product has gone on to become a huge hit with bookworms around the world. As a result, sales of e-books continue to grow fast, with a recent report revealing that in February, for the first time ever in the US, e-books sold in greater numbers than the more traditional paper-and-ink product.

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

How to remove books from a Kindle

how to remove books from a Kindle Kindle Oasis

Is your Kindle Oasis or Kindle Paperwhite getting filled up with stuff you'll only read once? Do you just need to clear some room? Kindles are great reading devices, but they don't have all the storage space in the world, so maybe it's time to get rid of a few of the titles on your reading list. Let's go through how to remove books from a Kindle device and how to delete these items permanently, if necessary! Once done, be sure to take a gander at our roundup of the best free Kindle books and the best websites for downloading free audiobooks. After all, you need to do something with your newfound space.
How to archive a book temporarily
This option allows you to remove a book from your Kindle or the Kindle app. Technically, you have still bought and own the rights to read this book, meaning it will remain affixed to your Amazon account, and you will be able to re-download it later, if desired. However, it will not take up any more room on your device. This can be especially useful if your Kindle is running out of storage space and you'd like to speed it up while making room for new purchases.

Step 1: Navigate to the book in question -- you can't actually be reading the book for this to work. If you want to delete a recent book, go to your Home Screen. Otherwise, head to your Library or the Search Box to find the title(s) you want to get rid of.

Deals

There has never been a better time to buy an Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle placed against a wall while displaying a book.

Amazon Prime Day deals are going fast, especially for Amazon exclusives. If you've been in the market for a Kindle, you're in luck today. The Amazon Kindle
, now with a built in front light, has hit a new low price of $59. Normally selling for $89, you'll save yourself $30 on one of the best e-readers out there. Whether for you or a loved one, there's a lot to admire with this Kindle.

For starters, the 167 ppi glare-free display reads like actual paper, even in direct sunlight. You'll also never have to worry about a high-demand battery, for a single charge will power the Kindle for a whole week. Not hours, a week. The built in reading light makes it possible to read anywhere, whether you're lounging on the couch at midnight or chilling at the beach. The lamp itself is also adjustable, so you'll always be able to re-position based on your reading situation. Speaking of reading, the Kindle is your open door to Amazon's massive reader marketplace, featuring millions of books, newspapers, and other publications. Boasting 4GB of storage, you can also download all your Kindle content for reading on the go.

Mobile

AT&T just made it a lot easier to upgrade your phone

Do you want to upgrade your phone more than once a year? What about three times a year? Are you on AT&T? If you answered yes to those questions, then AT&T’s new “Next Up Anytime” early upgrade program is made for you. With this add-on, you’ll be able to upgrade your phone three times a year for just $10 extra every month. It will be available starting July 16.

Currently, AT&T has its “Next Up” add-on, which has been available for the past several years. This program costs $6 extra per month and lets you upgrade by trading in your existing phone after at least half of it is paid off. But the new Next Up Anytime option gives you some more flexibility.