Kindle from Amazon No Longer Unlimited Usage: [25th Jul 2012]

Users of the Kindle from Amazon are about to have their Internet usage limited. The Kindle with a 3G connection usually offers free and unlimited mobile broadband and customers have access to the Internet via a browser when they are out of wi-fi reach. However Amazon have now said that the use of the browser will be limited to 50mb per month for 3G users. The downloading of books will be unlimited as will browsing over wi-fi. It is pointed out that the device is not ideal for browsing due to the type of display, but many customers have been using the device as a 3G hotspot for free due to easily available hacks. It is thought that this is the reason for the change.


Both AT&T and Verizon have failed to put their names forward for government subsidies via the Connect America Fund, stating that the amounts of money available to them would not have been enough to make it worthwhile. This is despite companies like Frontier taking $72,000 to give service to 92,000 homes. The two carriers sent a letter to the FCC declining taking part in the subsidy system (they were offered more than $47 million) because they wanted to finalize their strategy for getting into rural areas. The money on the table was designed to encourage broadband growth in under-served areas. It is thought that the real reason is that these two carriers want to move away from wired broadband, which how the money would be spent.


An investigation into the business of data broking has been opened by eight members of the Congress in an effort to discovers how the service works. Data brokers collect, collate, analyze and sell consumer data for marketing and other purposes. The congressmen sent a letter to nine leading data collection businesses and requested information about how they find the data and what they do with it. The companies which have been targeted include Experian, Equifax and Epsilon. The companies have just three weeks to respond. The investigation comes in the wake of a recent case where a data broker had to pay charges because it violated federal law by by selling personal data for employment screening. Other companies are also waiting for the results of their investigations.


A new report from the World Bank and infoDEV has discovered that mobile broadband has a more positive impact than fixed broadband, especially in developing nations. The report recommends that the use of mobile broadband should be encouraged in these markets. In fact, it seems that in many of these countries, the use of mobile broadband already is the main source of Internet access being more popular to a factor of 10 in Africa. The World bank has said that governments should ensure that there is enough spectrum to take advantage of mobile broadband to make it cost effective. It may also be a fact that larger blocks of spectrum may be needed to avoid congestion especially in the case of 4G. When it comes to payment, it is suggested that prepaid packages should be favored.