Why the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are Wi-Fi-only

The low-cost computer tablets coming next week from Amazon and Barnes & Noble connect only over Wi-Fi networks, which reduces costs and also cuts the nation's 3G/4G cellular carriers out of the equation. Other tablets, such as the iPad 2 and several Galaxy Tab versions, however, connect to 3G/4G cellular as well as Wi-Fi, but also have Wi-Fi-only models. So what's behind the decision to support Wi-Fi-only in Amazon's $199 Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's $249 Nook Tablet? Part of the answer stems from the way Amazon and Barnes & Noble see their tablets being used. Both see their devices primarily for consuming massive amounts of video, games, e-books and other media, which is best served over a low-cost Wi-Fi connection. "Amazon and Barnes & Noble want people to spend money on their content, not on [carrier] data plans to keep the tablets connected," said Tom Mainelli, an analyst at IDC. "So I don't think they have much interest in offering 3G/4G-enabled media tablets." Neither company has said whether it will eventually offer a cellular connection for their tablets, but there is little financial motivation to do so. Carriers might decide to offer cellular connections and service plans if the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet become popular, but they might find customers balk over data pricing, data caps and overage charges.