nook: International access [ Edited ]

[Kevin]

We're getting a lot of questions about whether you can use nook to buy eBooks outside the U.S.

The answer is that you can certainly read any of the content on your nook whereever you are. And if you're on Wi-Fi, you can access and download any content in your online eBooks Library (sometimes called the digital locker). This includes any subscription content that arrives during your travels.

But you cannot buy new Barnes & Noble eBooks (through nook or our website) when you are overseas. We're sorry, but this is a rights issue that we have to abide by.

We're looking at our international options, but don't have any news on that front right now.

Update (dated 11/9/09): As noted in this post on the Unbound blog, you'll be able to purchase Barnes & Noble eBooks in Canada around the first of December.

[Engmex]

if we are outside the US can we buy ebooks from the Barnes and Noble website using our computers and then transfer them to the Nook? 

[waddling_pengu…]

I know the work around for iTunes internationally is to use a gift card to access the iTunes US store.  Can you confirm if this, at least, will work for us, living outside the US?

Thanks.

[waddling_pengu…]

I mean, of course, using a B&N gift card to buy books on the B&N online store.  Thanks a million!

[athreya]

Kevin, I live in the US and in India. I use the Kindle in India via my computer.

with the nook:

1. Can one download ebooks onto the computer and transfer them to the nook while in India?

2. Can one take handwritten notes on the ebook?

3. Can one get subscription to the Economist, Readers Digest etc while in India via wifi? or would it have to be done using the computer?

4. lastly can the ebook reader display powerpoint presentations?

[vivacious]

Hi Kevin, Can we purchase ebooks from B&N with a non-US issued credit card? Please note physical location and billing address is in US, just that credit card is non-US registered.

[Cozz]

Yet again, book lovers outside the US are being penalized. How about teaming up with ITunes and allowing us poor non-US residents to buy the NOOK online and download eBooks via ITunes or even from your own site? Ever thought about opening a European accessible site?

If this could be worked out, the NOOK would have an immense advantage over the Kindle, something I have wanted to buy since it's introduction. If the NOOK overcomes the issues it has, many non-US residents will be clamoring to buy one,

On behalf of all non-US book lovers, try and get this sorted by Christmas, I will then know what to ask my family for, for a change!

[BarbaraVB]

So, if I understand correctly, I can, from my computer at home in Spain, buy and download ebooks from B&N to the PC and read them there, but I can't load then on the Nook device. Would that be "can't because I won't be able" or "shouldn't because of copyright stuff"?

[hollyrise]

I was intending on buying my wife a Kindle for Christmas, but now I've seen this I would prefer to buy a nook. Only 1 problem, I live in Ireland, so a few questions;

1. can I buy a kindle and get it shipped to Ireland ?

2. can I buy books online download to the computer and transfer to nook with a UK credit/debit card, as other people seem to be suggesting may be possible.

3. if the answers to both is no then when will I be able to buy one?

Thanks

[USAFwife]

This is an extremely important feature that all eReaders; nook, kindle, sony; are missing.

The lack of international access does not allow the U.S. military members and their families stationed overseas to use it.

It is already difficult enough to find books in english when you are in most overseas countries. The nook would be the most superior eReader on the market if this could be remedied.

Christmas is coming B&N. Please hurry.

[infogenium]

I am in Australia and a friend in the US is able and willing to buy me a Nook but I was wondering the following:

* Will the power source be compatible with Australia;

* I already have soem ebooks (I read them on my Blackberry) will I be able to transfer them over;

* Will I be able to buy books from any ebook seller and use on the Nook

Sorry to be specific but I am getting very excited about this. Thanks for your time.

[JaymeC]

You have international access with the Kindle. They just released an international version. You have to pay an extra $2 access fee if you're outside the states for wireless downloads, but you can download still. Or you can chose to download via USB and avoid the extra $2 purchase fee. I've been using my non-international kindle by downloading via USB for the last 6 months from Okinawa. I feel your pain at finding books on the local market.  I did have to ship it out using shipitapo.com, but that was back before the international version, I'm not sure that'd be a hassle anymore.

[bobwalder]

No that is not the case. You cannot buy ANY content from the B&N site unless you are physically located in the US at the time. Once content purchased in the US has been downloaded to your PC, it can be loaded to the Nook at any time.

Also, ereader.com content already paid for and downloaded to your PC can be loaded to the Nook via USB. Ironically, ereader.com DOES allow non-US residents to purchase their content, but the prices are now so high compared to B&N or Kindle that you probably wouldn't want to g that route

[Stevenajb]

I'd just like to add myself to the (probably large) group of anxious potential customers overseas. I've been waiting years now for a decent and good-looking product to become available to me (I live in Europe). The Kindle just hasn't done it for me, and I've been flirting with Sony's Reader. When I saw the Nook however, I felt that this was the product worth spending my Euros on.

Surely once B&N see the interest from abroad, they'll be more inclined to move to launch the Nook outside the US?

I created a Facebook group for this purpose:

Bring Barnes and Noble's Nook eBook Reader to Europe and the rest of the world!

Let's hope they're watching...

[Ladyexpat]

I'm in South Korea. Amazon will not ship their international version here. I would buy a Nook if I could use it here. Very frustrating and disappointing that this is so difficult.

Ladyexpat

[Benoit0123]

I would like to support all the enquiries made so far to B & N for providing the customers "overseas" (exact term should be outside the US) with paths to order both the Nook and then eBooks from their store. I am currently living in France and would consider purchasing for the end of year an eBook reader among the Amazon Kindle 2, and one of the Sony eBook reader (likely the PRS-505 model), however the ability to download content from Wi-fi LAN and the comfort provided by the 3" touch screen for the navigation would make the Nook as a strong candidate for potential buyers like myself. So please, consider opening your sales to customers not living within the US.

Thank you for reading

[Burry]

When your logged on to BN.com how do they know where you are.  So I think what you are saying as long as you have a US CC and the billing address for that card you should be able to buy ebooks and download them, does that sound right?

[Aglaia761]

to answer the question above,

The servers and IP addresses in each country tell the website where you are.  For example, when I was in Spain and visited the yahoo website, I would type in yahoo.com but yahoo.es would pop up.

[readerMB]

Can those of us in Canada purchase nook and use it in Canada?  I can't wait to have my own nook!

[jeq]

To all asking the same question I have - I'll restate what I believe Kevin said in the initial post:

The restrictions on international purchase/use is probably not a technical issue -

but it is a matter of international copyright law. Please don't hold this restriction

against B&N - or, for that matter Amazon or any other eBook provider.

If, for example, you are in India as one person mentioned, and you purchase an

e-book produced by a US. publisher - you are depriving the Indian publisher of royalty

payments to which they are entitled, because they paid for the rights to publish

the book.

Also, because author contracts are negotiated individually with each publisher, it is

conceivable to find a situation where a book published outside the US. may pay higher

royalties to the author than the same book in the U.S. edition. So they author may

also lose out.

As frustrating as this situation is, nobody has yet devised a workable solution.

That might be one benefit from the Nook entering the market - Amazon and Barnes and Noble

will both benefit from a solution; if the solution is one that works across all

platforms - Nook, Kindle, Mobi, Sony - all will benefit, and the larger playing field

will likely benefit publishers and authors as well.

(For my money, the Nook has enough advantages that it's my first choice.)

Disclaimer - I am not employed by or connected to any bookseller or publisher,

and the only eBook reader I own is an application on my cell phone;

these statements reflect only my own opinion.

jeq