Nintendo Comtemplates Kindle-Like 3G Nintendo DS

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata appears to be contemplating a Amazon Kindle-like 3G "always on" option for future version of the Nintendo DS platform, according to an article on the website Financial Times.

Amazon's Kindle e-book reader includes the ability to have an "always on" 3G connection that allows users to download books wirelessly wherever they are. This is different than many of the smart phones available today, which require a monthly fee for their wireless connections.

Satoru Iwata was speaking at an analyst briefing following the company's lowered financial outlook, and said the following:

Only people who can pay thousands of yen a month [in mobile phone subscriptions] can be iPhone customers. That doesn't fit Nintendo customers because we make amusement products," Mr Iwata said. The Kindle's one-off cost would better suit Nintendo's customer base, he said. "In reality, if we did this it would increase the cost of the hardware, and customers would complain about Nintendo putting prices up, but it is one option for the future.

Some users who live in busy cities usually have free or cheap wireless wherever they go, but for some users having free wireless (albeit having to pay a premium for the handheld), this might be a feature that would entice them to buy the handheld.