Wii Freely on the Web - For a Limited Period
Opera-based browser available gratis until Summer 2007.
Opera has announced that the whole Wii world will be able to use its browsing facility for nothing until June 2007. It was thought that maybe Nintendo's announcement of free Wii browsing, made a couple of weeks ago at its Japanese conference, was a Japan-only deal. Not so, according to Opera itself, which offered the following statement:
"Nintendo has stated that they will offer Opera free of charge as a temporary promotion for all Wii users until June 2007. From July 2007, users can purchase the Opera browser using Wii points. Wii points are credits users can buy that allow them to add new games or the Opera browser to their Wii consoles."
So, if you're planning to use your shiny new Wii as a portal to the rest of the world, you better get to it sharpish. Dilly-dally and you might find yourself having to pay for any Wii-waving web wandering. Nintendo tells us that the Wii will be available Stateside on November 19, 2006; Japan on December 2; and in Europe on December 8.
"Nintendo has stated that they will offer Opera free of charge as a temporary promotion for all Wii users until June 2007. From July 2007, users can purchase the Opera browser using Wii points. Wii points are credits users can buy that allow them to add new games or the Opera browser to their Wii consoles."
So, if you're planning to use your shiny new Wii as a portal to the rest of the world, you better get to it sharpish. Dilly-dally and you might find yourself having to pay for any Wii-waving web wandering. Nintendo tells us that the Wii will be available Stateside on November 19, 2006; Japan on December 2; and in Europe on December 8.
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Comments
ozfunghi 27 Sep 2006 12:55
1/13
Can SPong confirm if early adopters get to "keep" their free version after June07 or is it like a "free trial" that expires after June?
SCiARA 27 Sep 2006 13:01
2/13
ozfunghi wrote:
Can SPong confirm if early adopters get to "keep" their free version after June07 or is it like a "free trial" that expires after June?
the way I read it is that all will have to pay from July 07 as its a promotional offer.
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ozfunghi 27 Sep 2006 13:32
3/13
Which i doubt... the Metroid Prime Hunters demo was a promotional offer as well... yet people that bought a DS with the demo didn't have to give it back later either, or had to pay for it all of a sudden after having owned the demo for half a year. The inclusion of Wii sports is bound to be a promotional offer too, as was GCN+Zelda/RE bonus disc... didn't have to give that back either after the promotion ended.
It just doesn't make sense that way. It would make a lot more sense to offer this "trial version" to everyone, regardless of when they purchase it, but let it expire after a couple of months. If it is indeed a trial version that's being offered here.
What you and others are suggesting, is that if you buy the Wii on May 25th, you'll be able to use the browser for only 5 days, which makes no sense -to me. Plus it doesn't fit in Nintendo's online plan.
Though, i'm still hoping for an official confirmation.
It just doesn't make sense that way. It would make a lot more sense to offer this "trial version" to everyone, regardless of when they purchase it, but let it expire after a couple of months. If it is indeed a trial version that's being offered here.
What you and others are suggesting, is that if you buy the Wii on May 25th, you'll be able to use the browser for only 5 days, which makes no sense -to me. Plus it doesn't fit in Nintendo's online plan.
Though, i'm still hoping for an official confirmation.
SCiARA 27 Sep 2006 13:54
4/13
metroid prime demo and wii sports are one off games that have no reason for a subscription. Internet browsing on the other hand is an ongoing tool for new material.
I hope your right and we do get it free but I can’t see it.
Come on spong, dish the dirt
I hope your right and we do get it free but I can’t see it.
Come on spong, dish the dirt
ozfunghi 27 Sep 2006 18:17
5/13
I'm talking about the way they discribe it, as a "promotional offer" not as a "temporary free trial".
I hope i'm right too :)
...
I hope i'm right too :)
...
Ditto 27 Sep 2006 18:34
6/13
ozfunghi wrote:
I'm talking about the way they discribe it, as a "promotional offer" not as a "temporary free trial".
I hope i'm right too :)
...
I hope i'm right too :)
...
It sounds like they're going to keep it free until June and then charge from July (although these Wiipoints are hardly a real currency).
For example, Virgin Mobile have a summer of free texts promotional offer until 30th Sept. This doesn't mean that anyone who signs up before 30th Sept will get free texts forever, just that all customers will get free texts until that date after which they'll start having to pay for them again.
Johnhl 27 Sep 2006 19:05
7/13
It seems stupid that their gonna sell it at all it should just be given a way for free or included in the price of the system. They want to get people into these side features of the wii but put needless hurtles in their way.
Opera is free on for the PC it makes no sense to force them to buy it. On the DS it has to be a physical cartrige so its reasonable. Nintendo could the makers of opera 25 cents for every system sold and and opera would make more money they probably have in their entire history.
Opera is free on for the PC it makes no sense to force them to buy it. On the DS it has to be a physical cartrige so its reasonable. Nintendo could the makers of opera 25 cents for every system sold and and opera would make more money they probably have in their entire history.
Ditto 27 Sep 2006 19:13
8/13
Johnhl wrote:
Nintendo could the makers of opera 25 cents for every system sold and and opera would make more money they probably have in their entire history.
Not sure about that... Every ThinkPad shipped with an embedded version of Opera...
Johnhl 27 Sep 2006 20:11
9/13
well ya I was over stating it but nintendo could do a similar deal.
realvictory 27 Sep 2006 20:53
10/13
Adam M wrote:
It sounds like they're going to keep it free until June and then charge from July (although these Wiipoints are hardly a real currency).
For example, Virgin Mobile have a summer of free texts promotional offer until 30th Sept. This doesn't mean that anyone who signs up before 30th Sept will get free texts forever, just that all customers will get free texts until that date after which they'll start having to pay for them again.
For example, Virgin Mobile have a summer of free texts promotional offer until 30th Sept. This doesn't mean that anyone who signs up before 30th Sept will get free texts forever, just that all customers will get free texts until that date after which they'll start having to pay for them again.
It sounds to me like you can keep it - which would be a good idea as opposed to a bad idea - it says the browser, which isn't usually something you pay a subscription for.
Ditto 27 Sep 2006 22:19
11/13
realvictory wrote:
It sounds to me like you can keep it - which would be a good idea as opposed to a bad idea - it says the browser, which isn't usually something you pay a subscription for.
Yeah, but the browser is a front or a method for browsing the Internet. I'd argue the real service your buying is the ability to browse the net rather than the browser (as it sounds like it's built in). We're used to paying a subscription to get a service such as browsing the Internet.
Johnhl 28 Sep 2006 06:39
12/13
Ya but their not supplying you with an interent service you have to already have an internet connection to use this. So charging you a subscription to use the wii to surf the internet your already paying for would be a terrible idea.
SCiARA 29 Sep 2006 13:07
13/13
Still would like an answer to the original post query?