AfterDawn: News

Wii's Internet Channel goes free for all

Nintendo has decided that the Internet Channel - the Wii's Opera Internet browser - should be free to all users. Up until now, Nintendo charged users (expect for lucky early downloaders) 500 Wii Points to download the browser.

The company has also decided to offer a free NES game to anybody who did spend a few dollars to buy the Internet web browser for the console. A version of the Opera-based browser is also available for the Nintendo DS console to provide Internet access on the handheld.



Besides being able to access the Internet now for free (if you have a wireless connection, of course), more users can now also try out streaming some music, video or Internet streams to the Wii console with TVersity.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 1 Sep 2009 22:06

• Previous article

• Nokia delays music service launch in the U.S.

• Next article

• Sony loads VAIO's with Google Chrome

• 14 comments

• Lothros

  Well it is good to see Nintendo at least knowing when to move on and even apologising for it.

  1.9.2009 22:10 #1

• chris4160

  I brought the browser ages ago, how do I claim the nes game?

  1.9.2009 22:36 #2

• borhan9

  Wow i never knew that it cost before good thing i did not try to get anything all i did was do system updates.

  1.9.2009 23:15 #3

• bobiroc

  Actually really early adopters got it for Free. I have a 1st Gen Wii and I never paid for the browser. I think I got it as part of my registration.

  1.9.2009 23:47 #4

• 21Q

  That's very good to hear. I have a first gen wii from second week of sales, so no browser. But didn't download it either, and then didn't want to buy it lol. I bet this is just to cover up some bad rep they got for chasing R4 manufactures.

  2.9.2009 00:01 #5

• devingman

  Quote:bobiroc (Member) 1 September 2009 22:47 _
  Actually really early adopters got it for Free. I have a 1st Gen Wii and I never paid for the browser. I think I got it as part of my registration.Quote:Guy's right. This story is incorrect, opera-based browser was available for free for the time period of close to a few months before they started charging for it.

  2.9.2009 00:08 #6

• Dela

  Quote:Quote:bobiroc (Member) 1 September 2009 22:47 _
  Actually really early adopters got it for Free. I have a 1st Gen Wii and I never paid for the browser. I think I got it as part of my registration.Guy's right. This story is incorrect, opera-based browser was available for free for the time period of close to a few months before they started charging for it.First paragraph..
  
  "Up until now, Nintendo charged users (expect for lucky early downloaders) 500 Wii Points to download the browser."

  2.9.2009 01:48 #7

• pphoenix

  about time. but when you registered ur wii via (http://www.nintendo.co.uk ect) you were given something like 500 points as a free reward from exchanging stars for registering new nitty products.
  
  the rewards system is something that the other game consoles do not offer i believe, so my browser was free anyway.

  2.9.2009 06:58 #8

• Ruddy

  OK, but how do I claim my NES game?

  2.9.2009 12:49 #9

• killlouis

  hi i am trying to buy something off the nintendo web site on my console and was told that i could use my sort code and account number. now i have money in the account.
  
  i was informed that these my accunt details would be useable instead of my card....
  
  36759325-
  560064-
  
  now am i incorrect or can i not use them. they are for natwest so i dont know can some one help please. ta

  2.9.2009 13:45 #10

• Jake_C

  I was a lucky one I downloaded for free, I must have had it a compleate fluke in finding it too because I didn't really mean to get it I just saw it in the downloads and thought why not,
  
  Glad they saw sence though cause its not worth 500 points unless your in love with iplayer.
  
  Even better theyre offering the NES game its not much but 99% of companys would just say its now free and screw all you who paid for it.

  2.9.2009 17:00 #11

• bobiroc

  Originally posted by Jake_C: I was a lucky one I downloaded for free, I must have had it a compleate fluke in finding it too because I didn't really mean to get it I just saw it in the downloads and thought why not,
  
  Glad they saw sence though cause its not worth 500 points unless your in love with iplayer.
  
  Even better theyre offering the NES game its not much but 99% of companys would just say its now free and screw all you who paid for it.That is one thing about Nintendo. Since the beginning they have always shown great appreciation for their customers. The make good reliable products and even in the beginning when they had people throwing their WiiMotes through their TVs because of the string breaking but also the player letting go of the remote they still compensated some of the people in some way. They could have easily said "Well you let go of the remote" and point out their safety and handling instructions that plainly say to hold onto the remote/controller.

  2.9.2009 17:15 #12

• bam431

  i don't remember paying must of got it for free

  2.9.2009 17:38 #13

• KSib

  It's good that they updated the browser and made it free (even though I never paid for it). Unfortunately, the Flash player is still outdated and trying to watch videos on sites like IGN doesn't work. Oh well. That's what I have a PC for anyway.

  3.9.2009 17:40 #14