Breaking: Nintendo Europe reveals their Wi-Fi plans and announce a new partnership with BT Openzone and The Cloud.

There is a revolution afoot in the worlds of Wi-Fi and gaming. Nintendo is bringing Wi-Fi technology into play from the 25th November 2005 with a new groundbreaking deal with wireless providers BT Openzone and The Cloud. The launch of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service means the UK will take an unprecedented step forward into a new era of gaming, allowing anyone to play against friends and family across the globe simply, safely and best of all - for free.

Gamers will be able to visit any one of over 7,500 Wi-Fi hotspots at locations across the UK. These include McDonalds 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. We highly recommend logging onto both www.thecloud.net or www.btopenzone.com and entering your home town or postcode - you may be suprised how many Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection hotspots will be close to you.

Nintendo UK will also be installing BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots into major video games retailers and other key outlets across the UK, meaning it really is possible to game anywhere!

Gamers with a broadband internet connection at home will be able to enjoy the free, simple and safe Wi-Fi gaming service, you simply need a Wi-Fi access point or hotspot, like a Wi-Fi wireless router, and an active broadband internet connection. If you do not have a wireless access point, you can purchase a Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector (available 25th November for around �30) which plugs into a PC and automatically sets up a connection for you.

Simple...
With Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, online gaming is no longer a technological minefield. No one need be confused by having to complete complicated setup and configuration procedures. Unlike current offerings, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection set up is fuss free.

Safe...
The service will allow Nintendo DS gamers in the UK to link up with users across the country, and even the world, to compete against each other � Nintendo's Wi-Fi connection is a safe environment for players. Players have the option to select to play with just friends, or people of a similar skill level around the world without fear of harassment. Players do not have direct communication with each other when playing anonymously and therefore personnel details or inappropriate comments cannot be exchanged.

Free...
Users of Nintendo Wi-Fi will be able to access the service completely free* of charge. Whether connecting at home through their existing Wi-Fi broadband connection, at a retail outlet via Nintendo's bespoke download stations, or at one of over 7,500 public access Wi-Fi hotspots, users will not have to pay any additional subscription or connection charges.

David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK said: "Nintendo are bringing a significant, groundbreaking deal to the UK. Launching our Wi-Fi service in partnership with two of the UK's leading providers of hotspots is a massive statement of our commitment. Nintendo has revolutionised Wi-Fi video gaming, removing all of the negative aspects whilst retaining the fun and diversity it offers. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service truly offers the mass market a great opportunity to fully embrace Wi-Fi"

George Polk, CEO of The Cloud, said: "Consumer Wi-Fi has finally arrived, and in a big way. Now hundreds of thousands of Nintendo users can play networked games when they are out and about, while they are waiting for a train, walking to meetings, at shopping malls, at the football, and many other places. Nintendo Wi-Fi can fill all those little spaces in the day, keeping Nintendo customers in touch with friends and gaming rivals across town and across the world. By bundling free usage in with the game, engineering the DS so it can automatically connect to the network, creating market leading games, and pioneering new communities of users, Nintendo is breaking down all the barriers to usage that have slowed the growth of Wi-Fi. Business usage of our network continues to grow quickly, but we have thousands of consumer locations that have been waiting for this kind of service to come to market. To say we are excited and impressed by their new service would be a vast understatement."

Chris Clark, CEO of Converged Mobility Operations, BT said: "Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming part of everyone's lives, whether you are a business traveller, a professional working away from the office or now someone who enjoys playing games on consoles against people round the world. We are delighted to be working with Nintendo on this partnership which will broaden the appeal of Wi-Fi from the business into the consumer market. 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."

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will be rolled out across Europe, with different service providers and Wi-Fi partners in each country. There is really no excuse not to get online and get involved now it has been made so simple, safe and free!

The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo system to connect via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, but Nintendo Revolution will soon follow with its technology.

The launch of Nintendo Wi-Fi coincides with the return of infamous Nintendo title Mario Kart DS. Mario Kart is the first in what looks set to be a long line of titles to fully benefit from the Nintendo Wi-Fi offering. Also launching for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on 18th November and designed to take full advantage of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, 'Tony Hawk's American SK8Land' from Activision. The first 3D Tony Hawk game experience for a Nintendo handheld system.

Nintendo Wi-Fi launches in the UK on 25th November 2005, at no cost to users. The Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector launches on the same day for a cost of �30.