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Wii Internet Channel Will Be a For Pay Download Starting June 30

June 21, 2007 in News comments 15

The Wii's Internet Channel, which contains the hailed custom Opera Wii browser, will no longer be free starting from the 30th of June. After this date, the Internet Channel will cost $5, or 600 Wii Points. Part of the Wii's ever-expanding Channels, which include the Forecast and News Channels, the Internet Channel offers web browsing on your Wii, so if you don't already have, I'd advise you get it soon.

The folks behind the Wii have done a good job of expanding its functionality since launch. The forecast channel, the news channel, and of course the beta and then final version of the Internet channel with the custom Wii Opera browser all give Wii gamers something to do outside of gaming. Be sure to grab the Internet channel when you can though, as the free download period is about to expire: after June 30th the browser will cost you 500 Wii points, or $5.
Ameer via arstechnica.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Jun 22, 2007

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  • 0
    Infinite Jun 21, 07
    I'm not surprised to see that Nintendo will soon be charging for the Internet channel. It's not a bad deal though. It only costs five dollars.
  • 0
    Gary Jun 21, 07
    At least the price isn't too much, Is this Internet browser even available in the UK? I was looking around the wii internet channels but couldn't find anything related to it.
  • 0
    Rinkydink Jun 21, 07
    Yeah it is available in the UK, I have it. People have had long enough to download it for free anyway, and the price is reasonable since the browser is a great addition for the Wii.
  • 0
    Team Xtreme Jun 21, 07
    It's always been common knowledge that after June the Opera browser would cost money to download on the Wii. I'm quite happy I got it as soon as I got my Wii. The price to download is quite reasonable though.
  • 0
    Guticb Jun 21, 07
    The price still isn't reasonable. It should be free.
  • 0
    Team Xtreme Jun 21, 07
    I beg to differ, $5 to download it is reasonable. It's not like it is a huge sum of money and it has been available for free for 6 months or so. If you don't get it before then it's just too bad, there has been plenty of time to get it. And if you are going to use it often, $5 is hardly a waste of money. Hell, I would pay $5 if I had to just to continue using it.
  • 0
    Guticb Jun 21, 07
    It's not reasonable.

    Nintendo already makes at least $100 profit on every Wii they sell. That's already 600 million they've made JUST on console sales. This is something that should be a free feature of the Wii.
  • 0
    bbb7002004* Jun 21, 07
    If I can download Firefox for free, the lame Opera browser should be free as well.
  • 0
    Quellilo Jun 21, 07
    What!this is lame, it should be free
  • 0
    Gotenks Jun 21, 07
    I'm not even downloading it. My computer has internet so that's what I'll use.
    • 0
      Supernouva Jun 22, 07
      Exactly. Honestly, IMO, web browsing should be left to computers, not game consoles. A game console doesn't have to replace a PC.
  • 0
    Storm Jun 21, 07
    Is this trying to get people to buy a Wii to get this feature free? It's only $5 one-time pay, right? Meh, I wouldn't need it, anyways. Like gotenks said, I have my computer for internet browsing.
  • 0
    Team Xtreme Jun 21, 07
    I'm sorry guticb, I wasn't aware game companies were allowed to make a proffit off of their consoles. And last time I checked Nintendo weren't making $100 off of every consoles, it was more like $30-$50.
  • 0
    iLLmatic Jun 21, 07
    Nintendo themselves said that it cost somewhere around $175 to manufacture the Wii.
  • 0
    bbb7002004* Jun 21, 07
    Don't forget you also get a Wiimote, nunchuck, and game in the $250 package, which pushes the cost up to at least $200. Still a sizable profit though.

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