The DS will be recieving a web browsing application based on Opera. Slated for a June release.

On the heels of Reggie-sponsored rumours indicating Nintendo's interest in designing a DS-specialized web browser, we now have official word.

At a press conference this morning in Japan aimed at introducing the DS Lite to the public, Nintendo shared a number of new software revelations for their dual-screened monster portable. Among the announcements was confirmation that a DS-specific web browser is under development. The DS Opera browser will come on a DS card. Users need only power on the system and connect to a wireless network to surf the web. Building off the user interface and featureset of the popular Opera browser, the DS application will span both screens with the touch screen serving for input (with certain stylus gestures allowing for functionality such as changing the viewing angle.) ATOK Kanji conversion will be supported out of the box. Priced at 3800 yen, the browser will be released in Japan come June.

Specific plans to expand the browser into other territories, surprise surprise, have not been announced. As the functionality has been greatly desired by a large number of western DS owners, hopefully Nintendo will take heed.

From the forums on Opera's website, developers have commented that while web email will be functional, features like RSS and widgets could not yet be commented on. It was relayed that Flash and PDF would not be viewable though (likely due to hardware limitations).

Opera has posted their official announcement of the project on their website. Reproduced below:

In Opera's agreement with Nintendo, Nintendo DS users will now be able to surf the full Internet from their systems using the Opera browser. The Opera browser for Nintendo DS will be sold as a DS card. Users simply insert the card into the Wi- Fi enabled Nintendo DS, connect to a network, and begin browsing on two screens.

Earlier this year, Nintendo reported that 13 million Nintendo DS systems were sold to consumers around the world within just 13 months of its debut in November 2004. Nintendo DS combines unique dual screens, touch screen, voice recognition and wireless and Wi-Fi communications capabilities. According to an independent market research company in Japan, Nintendo DS has become the fastest selling video games machine to top the six million sales mark in Japan in just over 14 months since its Japanese debut, breaking the old record held by Nintendo's Game Boy Advance.

"The incredibly popular Nintendo DS is already Wi-Fi enabled to support real time gaming, so adding Web browsing capabilities was a natural evolution for this device," says Scott Hedrick, Executive Vice President, Opera Software. "Gaming devices are growing more advanced and a great Web experience is becoming a product differentiator for gaming manufacturers. Opera is excited to work with Nintendo to deliver a unique dual screen, full Internet experience on Nintendo DS."

With an on-screen keypad and stylus, users can easily navigate the Web from their Nintendo DS with PDA-like functionality. Based on the same core as the Opera desktop browser, Opera delivers superior speed and rendering of Web pages on the Nintendo DS.

"Within just five seconds of turning on the system, the Nintendo DS is already fully operational. This makes it the ideal device to enable people to swiftly obtain the latest information from the internet, wherever they are," says Masaru Shimomura, Deputy General Manager of Nintendo's R & D Department. "Opera exceeded our expectations with its user friendly interface, quick access to all your favorite sites, ease of use and, most importantly, in making the best use of the Nintendo DS system's unique double screens and touch screen features. Opera is an important partner for Nintendo in our efforts to further expand the users of the Nintendo DS."

Nintendo Co., Ltd. held a presentation today in Tokyo, Japan, to announce updates for the Nintendo DS. Information on the availability of the Opera browser DS card has not yet been announced.