The Ad-Supported Kindle Is Still The Best-Selling... But Not For The 3G Version (AMZN)

We've been keeping an eye on Amazon's best-selling gadgets list since the ad-supported Kindle came out earlier this year.

The ad-supported wifi Kindle, which is $25 cheaper than the no-ads version, continues to be Amazon's best-selling e-reader.

But the ad-supported 3G Kindle, announced more recently, continues to sell worse than the more expensive, no-ads 3G Kindle.

(It's been that way every time we've looked, but perhaps this changes from time to time. Also, we're trusting Amazon that its best-seller rankings are honest. They have certainly had some quirks in the past.)

What does this suggest? It's hard to tell much without knowing the relative differences in sales.

But while we're guessing...

Perhaps the $25 cost savings -- at the expense of exposure to ads -- is most important to people who want to spend the least money?

Perhaps bigger spenders -- or whichever other demographics tend to buy the 3G Kindle over the wifi Kindle -- hate ads more?

Perhaps once people get over the extra $50 they're going to spend for 3G access, they don't mind spending another $25 to use the Kindle without ads?

Either way, this suggests that price is not the perfect predictor of Kindle sales.

And, skipping ahead a bit, perhaps ad-supported gadget subsidies won't work as well for more expensive gadgets (and the people who buy them) as it would for cheaper gadgets (and the people who care most about saving money).

Related: Here's Why Amazon's Ad-Supported Kindle Is The Future Of Gadgets

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See Also:

• The Future Of Mobile Advertising: Less Annoying, More Useful
• iCloud And iOS 5: No Big Deal Short-Term, Great For The Long-Term
• So Much For Apple Working Out That Deal With Facebook

The Ad-Supported Kindle Is Still The Best-Selling... But Not For The 3G Version (AMZN)

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Comment on How Microsoft’s Skype Purchase Can Help Windows Phone by Ray G

"clean-ness" of Google experience? I find this laughable. Andriod is the messiest mobile platform todate, not to mention it offers the poorest end-user experience. I configure smart phones for all users in my organization. Most users with android phones keep coming back to me to make sense of tens and tens of junk icons and widets that's all over thier phones by default. I bet google makes some $$$ for filling up anriod with 3rd party junk. There is nothing clean about that.

Comment on How Microsoft’s Skype Purchase Can Help Windows Phone by Ray G

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$164 Kindle 3G E-Reader Announced

Amazon announced a $164 Kindle 3G under a special offer and ships immediately.

$164 Kindle 3G E-Reader Announced

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T-Mobile's 4G Network Is Getting A Lot Faster In These Cities (DT)

T-Mobile announced today that it's boosting 4G speeds in 55 cities, reaching theoretical speeds that are double what they are now.

The company claims its network can reach speeds of 42 Mbps (which is more than four times faster than your cable modem), but there's almost no chance of actually experiencing that in the wild.

Still, it show that T-Mobile is still working on improving speeds, which is a good thing.

Press release below:

Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced it is doubling the speed of its 4G network in more than 50 markets to achieve theoretical peak download speeds of up to 42 megabits per second (Mbps). T-Mobile customers in 55 markets will now have access to increased 4G network speed, capacity and reliability. These markets include Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco, Calif., among others. 

In addition, T-Mobile’s first 42 Mbps-capable 4G product, the T-Mobile Rocket^® 3.0 laptop stick, will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, May 25. The Rocket 3.0, manufactured by ZTE, is designed to take advantage of T-Mobile’s faster 4G network speeds. Capable of speeds twice as fast as T-Mobile’s previous 4G devices, customers in 42Mbps coverage are expected to experience more consistent 4G speeds when creating and sharing mobile content, streaming and connecting through mobile video, and participating in multiplayer gaming.  

“We are continuing the aggressive expansion of America’s Largest 4G Network™, and also doubling our speeds in more than 50 markets this month,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “While customers with existing 3G and 4G devices will benefit from our continued network enhancements, new devices like the new Rocket 3.0 laptop stick will enable customers to reap the benefits of even faster 4G speeds.”

Providing customers with a blazing fast Internet connection on almost any laptop while on the go, the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 is equipped with a convenient rotating swivel USB form factor and three changeable faceplates in cobalt blue, dark violet and matte black. The Rocket 3.0 will be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.T-Mobile.com tomorrow for $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate, with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on a two year service agreement¹. Postpaid monthly plans start at $29.99, and customers with a qualifying voice line of service with T-Mobile receive a 20 percent discount. Customers can also purchase the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 without an annual contract for $199.99.  For more information about the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0, including pricing and plan details, visit www.t-mobile.com/broadbandgoesmobile.

T-Mobile 4G markets where 42Mbps service is launching today:

Albany, Ga.; Athens, Ga.; Atlanta, Ga.; Auburn, Ala.; Augusta, Ga.; Austin, Texas; Bentonville, Ark.; Boulder, Colo.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Durham, N.C.; El Paso, Texas; Fort Collins, Colo.; Gainesville, Fla.; Gainesville, Ga.; Greeley, Colo.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Island, N.Y.; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.; Macon, Ga.; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Olympia, Wash.; Omaha, Neb.; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Portland, Ore.; Salinas, Calif.; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.; Savannah, Ga.; Seattle, Wash.; Spokane, Wash.; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Valdosta, Ga.; Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.; Warner Robins, Ga., and Wichita, Kan.

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See Also:

• Wow, AT&T's 4G Network Is Going To Get Really, Really Fast
• Here's Everything You Need To Know About Microsoft's Big Windows Phone 7 Event Tomorrow
• BALLMER: We're Adding 500 New Features To Windows Phones This Fall

T-Mobile's 4G Network Is Getting A Lot Faster In These Cities (DT)

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Verizon's 4G Network Is Growing Like Crazy (VZ)

Verizon has plans to roll out its speedy 4G network to another 21 cities beginning June 16, the company tweeted.

That's on top of handful of news cities added last week.

So far, our tests have shown Verizon's "4G" service to be faster than the other big three carriers. At times, it even outpaced our typical cable modem speeds.

Here's the list of cities getting 4G next month. We'll keep it updated as Verizon announces more today:

• Sioux Falls, SD

• Milwaukee, WI

• Madison, WI

• Flint, MI

• Grand Rapids, MI

• Fort Wayne/Indianapolis, IN

• Hartford, CT

• Erie, PA

• Dayton/Springfield, OH

• Penn State

• Greenville-Spartenburg, SC

• Harrisburg, PA

Don't Miss: The Top 10 Smartphones On Verizon Right Now

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See Also:

• Wow, AT&T's 4G Network Is Going To Get Really, Really Fast
• 20 Secret Tips And Tricks To Get The Most Out Of Your Android Phone
• BALLMER: We're Adding 500 New Features To Windows Phones This Fall

Verizon's 4G Network Is Growing Like Crazy (VZ)

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Here Are The Two 4G Phones AT&T; Is Launching Today (T)

AT&T is launching two 4G phones today: the Samsung Infuse and HP Veer.

The Infuse runs Android 2.2 Froyo and supports a massive (and gorgeous) 4.5-inch touchscreen. You can get it starting today for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, HP's Veer 4G is a super-tiny 2.5-inch touchscreen phone with a slide-out keyboard. It runs WebOS. The Veer will cost you $99.99 on a two-year contract.

Want to know more?

Click here for our review of the Samsung Infuse 4G >

Click here for our review of the HP Veer 4G >

Click here for our video review of the HP Veer 4G >

For the latest gadget news, visit SAI: Tools. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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See Also:

• 10 Apps That Prove HP Smartphones Don't Have A Lot Going For Them Yet
• You Won't Believe How Gorgeous The Infuse 4G's Screen Is [REVIEW]
• You Have To See It To Believe It: HP's Tiny Veer 4G Smartphone [VIDEO REVIEW]

Here Are The Two 4G Phones AT&T; Is Launching Today (T)

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