I can't be bothered to dig up the reference (it was quoted in one of the gadget blogs), but the data service is provided via AT&T's data roaming agreements. As these aren't cheap, there's and added $2 fee to download an item while out of the US. Clearly, this is targeted at international travelers and not at the European market..

Isn't the new kindle a GSM device?

A subscriber of any GSM data plan should be able to use the device, right?

Demonstrates how communication and network providers can stifle innovation. We need to our move networking and communications capabilities onto platforms which are not wrapped up in masses of red tape, terms of service and vendors politics and favoritism.