Opera Web Browser Free On Wii Until June, 2007

[Shawn Andrich]

Opera Web Browser Free On Wii Until Until June, 2007

Opera Software has announced that the browser will be available for free download on the Wii until June.

The only confirmed web browser for the Nintendo Wii will be available on the "Wii Shop Channel" for free download until June, when the software will begin selling for an undisclosed price. Supporting Flash and AJAX-based content such as Google maps, the Opera browser will allow users to surf the web with their Wii Remote.

With a lack of high definition support, there are concerns that 480p will not be sufficient for web browsing on a television, but Opera Software claims the browser will be customized for the Wii experience. The Wii ships in North America on November 19th for $249.99 US.

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[Goofonian]

While this is good news I can't understand it from nintendo's point of view. Either they give it away with the console or sell it as an extra, but whats the point in giving it away for a little while and then charging other people later?

I understand doing it for XBLA poker, without a large installed base a game like poker isn't going to be very successful so the easiest way to give it a kick start is to give it away for free for a couple days. For the web browser I just don't get it.

 

[heavyfeul]

While this is good news I can't understand it from nintendo's point of view. Either they give it away with the console or sell it as an extra, but whats the point in giving it away for a little while and then charging other people later?

I understand doing it for XBLA poker, without a large installed base a game like poker isn't going to be very successful so the easiest way to give it a kick start is to give it away for free for a couple days. For the web browser I just don't get it.

I think Nintendo is looking to make the Wii even MORE appealling to the casual gamer at launch. They want the thing to become sort of the hub of family room entertainment. By offering a web browser free, they make it an even more appealing buy at launch. I think it is one more little addition that will make the Wii's debut a home run. I may eat my words, but I really think Nintendo is going to hit the mark with this console. They just need to make sure their title library is diverse. As long as they do that, I think that the Wii has the potential to break all-time sales records.

 

[TomBeraha]

Goof, Heavy -

To the best of my knowledge, Nintendo doesn't own Opera. Opera charges for its browser on other platforms such as mobile phones, it doesn't on PC because it's got to compete with IE which comes with the system, if people had to buy a browser to get online, you can bet it would cost in the same range and be available at the computer store. So - jump to Wii - there is no browser shipped with the console, They have a chance at cornering a market, and selling their browser. If Mozilla / Microsoft (microsoft is an unlikely cantidate for obvious reasons) chose to market their browser on the Wii, and did it for free / less to Wii users - the Opera package will come down in cost accordingly. I think Nintendo did their best to get the initial package ready for everybody so that you COULD just jump in, get it all up and running.

My only current concern - which I haven't done enough research on - is what security methods does the wii wireless support, Can it join a WPA protected network like the one I run at home?

- Tom