Nintendo create 7,500 free hotspots in UK for Nintendo DS

Nintendo says yes to free Wi-Fi for games console in UK

4 November 2005 11:29 GMT / By Stuart Miles

First it was McDonald's in the US, now Nintendo is planning on opening 7,500 Wi-Fi locations across the UK for the launch of its Wi-Fi gaming service on 25 November.

Partnering with wireless providers BT Openzone and The Cloud, Nintendo DS gamers will be able to play in McDonald's restaurants, Coffee Republic coffee houses, Hilton and Ramada Jarvis hotels, Road Chef and Welcome Break service stations, First Great Western railway stations, over 25 student unions and city centre BT Payphones and airports, football stadiums and even the British Library and Canary Wharf for free.

Nintendo UK will also be installing BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots into major video games retailers and other key outlets across the UK.

Chris Clark, CEO of Converged Mobility Operations, BT said: "We believe the future for Wi-Fi is that people will be able to access the Internet, their corporate networks and their games consoles any time, anywhere using whatever device they have".