Advice on Kindle "personal documents" transfer costs

usignuolo

I have just ordered a Kindle 3 (supports wifi and 3G) and got an email from Amazon saying I could download books via their website using their whispernet technology while waiting for it to arrive.

So I have downloaded some free classics from the Amazon library. They are now waiting in my Kindle account to be downloaded onto my device when it arrives in the next couple of days. However I am not clear looking at the user guide if there is a charge for this. This is where it gets confusing.

In theory with a Kindle 3, you do not pay for connection to download books. However in the user guide there are a lot of references to charges for downloading "personal documents" if you have a 3g version Kindle. Personal documents as defined by Amazon, seems to include books in .pdf format.

If you have a basic Kindle with wifi only enabled - and no 3g - there is no charge for downloading "personal documents" but if you have a Kindle with 3g enabled, it looks for this option first and may charge for downloads of "personal documents" ie .pdfs depending on your set up and download method chosen.

There are ways to get round this, by emailing the personal documents to [EMAIL="yourname@free.kindle.com"]yourname@free.kindle.com[/EMAIL] (as opposed to [EMAIL="yourname@kindle.com"]yourname@kindle.com[/EMAIL]). I want to download some free .pdf books from a non Google source (Gutenberg project) where they are available in .pdf format, so I assume I have to email them to my address in the free option format? Will this mean I am not charged a download fee? Will they be automatically converted to Kindle format?

And what about the books I have chosen from Amazon already which are waiting to be downloaded as soon as I take delivery of my device. Do I need to direct those to the "free" email address as well.?

Also it seems you can only download books from the UK site not from the US site. So how does it work when you take it on abroad and want to download books. Are you still restricted to Amazon downloads from their UK site only?

Anyone got any experience?

mr_fishbulb

I've got the non-3G one so I'm not sure about downloading free books from Amazon over Whispernet. But I can confirm that emailing pdf to your free.kindle account won't cost you anything. You can only pick up the document when you have a wireless connection, but it doesn't need to convert it as the new kindle reads pdf files without converting.

If you go on the my kindle page on Amazon, you can add email addresses you want to approve to send things to your device. You can also set a maximum daily data transfer cost when downloading docs over 3G. Set it to £0.00 if you definitely don't want to download over 3G (this won't affect the 3G web browsing which is free).

S0litaire

Books that you buy already include a cost for Whispernet transfer.

You have a @kindle.com address (you'll get one when you register your kindle)
Mark the email subject "Convert" and it will convert files into PDF format and send it to your kindle.

You actually get 2 addresses: @free.kindle.com & @kindle.com

"@free.kindle.com" only sends to devices attached by Wi-Fi and you don't pay anything for that.
"@kindle.com" address tries 3G first then Wireless (you have to pay for 3G delivery)

*note*
If you have a Wi-fi only kindle then both are free. (I think, not used it in ages.)

soolin

I'm not at all techie but i buy books on Amazon and when I switch my wi fi on they are downloaded immediately

Peter999_2

S0litaire is right, there is no charge for wi-fi only Kindle's using either email address.

I notice they've started selling them in DSG stores as well.

mr_fishbulb

Peter999 wrote: »

S0litaire is right, there is no charge for wi-fi only Kindle's using either email address.

But if you have a 3G version there is no way to switch to wi-fi only. It's either wireless on (3G when available), or wireless off.

S0litaire

You don't need to turn off 3G to get Wi-Fi reception of files.

If you have a wireless router make sure your kindle is logged on to the network and you'll get anything send via the @free.kindle.com address...

Aiadi

Also set the Max pay limit on your kindle account to £0.00 and it will not send you any of your personal documents via 3G and will only utilise your WiFi network when connected. This way you'll ensure that you won't get charged anything.

From Amazon:

"
Fees for transfer of personal documents to the Kindle via 3G are based on the size of the file submitted (before compression if you use a .ZIP file). Fees will only be charged for documents that are successfully received wirelessly to your Kindle via the 3G connection. There is no fee for documents received via the Wi-Fi connection. If you transfer personal documents to your Kindle via Whispernet (3G), the fee is £0.20 per MB.
Fees are rounded up to the next whole MB and apply to each personal document delivered via 3G to each Kindle. You can transfer personal documents to your Kindle via USB for free at anytime.
Setting your Personal Document Charge Limit

You have the option to set the maximum amount you wish to pay per document for the Personal Document Service. If the conversion fee for any single document you e-mail for wireless delivery to your Kindle via Whispernet exceeds the maximum, the document will be sent to your @free.kindle.com address and a notification will be sent to your Kindle.
To set the Charge Limit for Personal Document Service:

1. Visit the Manage Your Kindle page.
2. Scroll down to the "Your Personal Document Charge Limit" section.
3. Enter your preferred maximum charge value.
4. Click the "Update limit" option when finished.

The limit you set is a per document limit. If you send multiple documents for conversion in a .zip file, the total combined charge for conversion of all the documents may exceed your per document limit. As long as each document's charge is below the limit, conversion and delivery will be successful.
Combination of Fees for Personal Document Service

Consecutive orders for Personal Document Service via Whispernet that cost less than 5.00 GBP may be combined into one transaction and appear as a single charge on the statement of your preferred payment method.
Free Transfer of Personal Documents

If you would like to transfer your personal documents to your Kindle for free, you can send attachments to "name"@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.co.uk account log-in. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection.For example, if your Kindle e-mail address is [EMAIL="Jay@Kindle.com,"]Jay@Kindle.com,[/EMAIL] send your attachments to [EMAIL="Jay@free.kindle.com."]Jay@free.kindle.com.[/EMAIL]

mttylad

Get Calibre (ebook management software) and download them for free, convert them to Kindle format.

Works fine for er indoors (who is using the PC version).

fitshase

Or simply plug in the USB cable and transfer the downloaded books from your computer ;-)