Topic: Iwata Looks to the Kindle for Future Handhelds

[Crimm]

The Nintendo President is interested in AmazonÂ’s ebook-reading device.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20241

 Nintendo may be looking at the business model of Amazon's ebook reader, the Kindle, for inspiration. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said Friday that the Kindle may serve as an example for future Nintendo handhelds.    

The Kindle, which downloads ebooks from Amazon, connects to local cell phone networks instead of using WiFi, which the DS uses.      

"I'm interested because it's a new business model in which the user doesn't bear the communications cost," he told the Financial Times.    

Unlike cell phone users, who pay a monthly fee to use 3G networks, the Kindle includes the lifetime costs of the connection in the retail price. Iwata specifically cited Apple, who allows users of the iPhone to download applications from their store, but requires them to have a data plan with a cellular provider to take the device online.    

Including such a service would allow more consumers to access Nintendo's online store, the DSi Shop. Iwata acknowledged that such a move, while helpful to consumers without WiFi access, would increase the cost of any device.  "Customers would complain about Nintendo putting prices up, but it is one option for the future," he said.    

This all comes a week after Nintendo announced the DSi XL, a new version of the DSi featuring larger screens and targeted at older consumers.

[Jonnyboy117]

I'm looking forward to the Nook, which is Barnes and Noble's version. Certainly, having "free", always-available wireless Internet would be a huge shift for portable games.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think there is a HUGE difference in downloading an e-book (1-2mb?) and downloading games and online gaming/communication. I doubt any cell provider is gonna allow for lifetime bandwidth on a portable gaming device with the amount of bandwidth that might be necessary.

I don't see how that would work at all.

[KDR_11k]

DSiWare (and many retail) games aren't terribly large either. Low res 2D is pretty space efficient.

[NWR_Lindy]

To anybody that pooh-pooh my Kindle reference in that roundtable a while back, you just got served Iwata-style!

[BlackNMild2k1]

DSiWare (and many retail) games aren't terribly large either. Low res 2D is pretty space efficient.

I guess it could work if youconnect momentarily to d/l an updated menu of whats available, then wen you decide on the software, it would connect again to allow you to download. But I imagine that Nintendo will have to subsidize the cellular companies on the backside based on 20-50+ million additional people WW using their towers for a possible 3-6 years.

But this also means that Nintendo would have some cellular equipment in their next handheld which could mean that they have the potential to challenge Apple and the like heads up. Not that I think they will, but it could be as simple as one application away.

[UncleBob]

I think there is a HUGE difference in downloading an e-book (1-2mb?) and downloading games and online gaming/communication. I doubt any cell provider is gonna allow for lifetime bandwidth on a portable gaming device with the amount of bandwidth that might be necessary.

I don't see how that would work at all.

Also, bear in mind that, with the roll out of the "4G" LTE networks, the average speed/cost of downloading via cell towers is going to get lower and lower.  Heck, I can get unlimited data for $10/month now on my cell phone...  a few years ago, they were charging something like $15/MB or something.  This past billing cycle alone, I used 93 MB of data on my phone... or $1,395 worth.

And this is in the US - aren't the cell networks in Japan quite a bit more advanced than ours?

[BlackNMild2k1]

I would imagine that Japan is far more advanced since they got to spend all of their military budget on infrastructure and advancing technology for decades. They also have a much more condensed network.

But $10 unlimited data? what do you have Metro PCS?

As far as 4G networks, all the networks except for Verizon haven't even gotten to 50% 3G coverage nationwide yet.
The second largest wireless provider in the US (AT&T) looks to barely cover 15-20% of the US with 3G and the 3rd largest (Sprint) piggy backs off of Verizon, so I'm not so hopeful on the quick spread of 4G networks.

[Ian Sane]

I would personally prefer that they not bother with this.  I don't find using Wi-Fi to be a problem at all and if the cost of the hardware has to go up to accomodate this, well, then I'm just paying more for something I don't need or want.  Thought that's just me and others might find this worth the money.

[ShyGuy]

heh heh, oh Ian....

Wait till Nintendo deletes 1984: The Videogame from your DS2 remotely.

[nickmitch]

They could up the cost of the software, so that the hardware wouldn't have to cost too much more.

But I'm still on the "3G still kinda sucks, so I'm not at all excited about 4G" bandwagon.

[NWR_Lindy]

I would personally prefer that they not bother with this.  I don't find using Wi-Fi to be a problem at all and if the cost of the hardware has to go up to accomodate this, well, then I'm just paying more for something I don't need or want.  Thought that's just me and others might find this worth the money.

Why not do what the iPhone does: be smart enough to switch between 3G and Wi-Fi dynamically?

By the time this handheld comes out, 3G is gonna be cheeeeeap.

You can get unlimited data on iPhone/BlackBerry for about $85/month (cell service+data) in the U.S. right now.  And I'm sure you can deals on that to bring it even lower.

[UncleBob]

BnM: I'm on Verizon, so I get 3G virtually everywhere.

SLightly related, but did you hear at AT&T was suing VZW because of VZW's "There's a map for that" ad campaign?  Apparently, the lawsuit is focused on the fact that Verizon accuratly depects their 3G coverage in comparison to AT&T's - and AT&T doesn't like that...

[BlackNMild2k1]

Lindy: The problem is that right now on AT&T/Verizon Unlimited data cost a minimum of $35 for smart phones, not sure what they would charge for a gaming handheld.

UncleBob: It's all in the Verizon phones thread
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=29568.msg561573#msg561573

[NWR_Lindy]

Nintendo would cut a deal on that with them, and they incorporate that into the cost of the unit so that they could recoup it over time.  Hell, if Amazon can make it work, Nintendo sure can.

If it pushed the price of the handheld out of their sweet spot, they simply wouldn't do it.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I just don't see how even an extra $30 per unit would make up for the amount of traffic each unit could potentially create, assuming that cellular would be used for online gaming and not just software distribution.

That is unless that cellular provider sold ad space to the time when you are downloading.