We've always said that the biggest hurdle to Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet launching in the UK is the logistical challenge of getting the Amazon Appstore up and running locally.
Well Amazon has now overcome that challenge, and with the follow-up Kindle Fire 2 widely expected to be unveiled at an event on September 6, it begs the question: is Amazon about to give us international types some tablet love?
When Amazon launched the Kindle Fire 11 months ago, we took it for granted that we'd get to see it in the UK at some point, as we do with all high-profile gadgets.
But despite regular rumours to that effect, it hasn't happened, and with an upgraded Kindle Fire 2 reportedly in the pipelines, we'd rather Amazon simply waited and brought us that one instead.
But what are the chances? As of today, rather good, as Amazon has officially opened the virtual doors to its Amazon Appstore to Android users in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
There's no shortage of apps in there too, as you can find out for yourself by heading to www.amazon.co.uk/get-appstore on your Android device.
But the bigger picture is that surely that's the hard part, and setting up some distribution channels to get the Kindle Fire itself on sale in the UK can't be too difficult. After all, Amazon does have a bit of experience in the area.
It certainly ups the stakes for the Big A's mysterious September 6 launch event in San Diego. With most predictions saying the Kindle Fire 2 will take top billing at the event, and Christmas looming not too far on the horizon, surely it's the perfect time for Amazon to set its tablet ambitions loose on the wider world?
UPDATE: the original Kindle Fire is now completely sold out across the Atlantic, according to the latest reports, making the Kindle Fire 2 a cast-iron certainty for next week's event.
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