[email protected]Nintendo of Europe has issued a press release today, describing the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection in the United Kingdom. It is now confirmed that over 7,500 wireless hotspots have been implemented, and will be ready for use when the service debuts in the region on November 25th.
These Wi-Fi zones will be available at participating McDonald’s restaurants, Coffee Republic coffee houses, Hilton and Ramada Jarvis hotels, Road Chef and Welcome Break service stations, First Great Western railway stations, soccer stadiums, and many of the countries’ airports.
Additionally, those willing to locate one of these hotspots can visit www.thecloud.net or www.btopenzone.com and enter their information to locate the closest wireless location.
David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK has said, “Nintendo is bringing a significant, groundbreaking deal to the UK. Launching our Wi-Fi service in partnership with two of the UK’s leading providers of hotspots is a massive statement of our commitment. Nintendo has revolutionised Wi-Fi video gaming, removing all of the negative aspects whilst retaining the fun and diversity it offers. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service truly offers the mass market a great opportunity to fully embrace Wi-Fi.”
Furthermore, the company has revealed today that BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots will be implemented into many, major video game retailers as well as other major retail outlets across the country.
“Consumer Wi-Fi has finally arrived, and in a big way. Now hundreds of thousands of Nintendo users can play networked games when they are out and about, while they are waiting for a train, walking to meetings, at shopping malls, at the football, and many other places. Nintendo Wi-Fi can fill all those little spaces in the day, keeping Nintendo customers in touch with friends and gaming rivals across town and across the world,” said George Polk, CEO of The Cloud. “By bundling free usage in with the game, engineering the DS so it can automatically connect to the network, creating market leading games, and pioneering new communities of users, Nintendo is breaking down all the barriers to usage that have slowed the growth of Wi-Fi. Business usage of our network continues to grow quickly, but we have thousands of consumer locations that have been waiting for this kind of service to come to market. To say we are excited and impressed by their new service would be a vast understatement.”
Combined with the fact that any anyone with an existing broadband connection will have free, unlimited access to the service, via the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB adapter or wireless router, the service is immense in its scope, covering the majority of the United Kingdom.
“Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming part of everyone’s lives, whether you are a business traveller, a professional working away from the office or now someone who enjoys playing games on consoles against people round the world. We are delighted to be working with Nintendo on this partnership which will broaden the appeal of Wi-Fi from the business into the consumer market” said Chris Clark, CEO of Converged Mobility Operations, BT.
Releasing on November 25th, the service aims to provide an easy, free, accessible gaming network for fans of Nintendo products. As a point of note, this level of Wi-Fi access is unique to the United Kingdom. Nintendo of Europe is set to provide a similar structured system across other European countries as well.
“We believe the future for Wi-Fi is that people will be able to access the internet, their corporate networks and their games consoles any time, anywhere using whatever device they have.”
Stick with the Advanced Media Network for continued coverage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, as much more is expected to be revealed soon. Stay tuned!
