NEW YORK: Japanese game maker Nintendo and Opera Software are jointly launching a web browser. A free beta version of the Opera browser for Nintendo Wii games console will be available for download on 22 December.
All Wii owners who are connected and have activated the Wii Shop Channel will be able to download the browser to activate the internet channel of the Wii Menu and begin surfing the net.
The final version of the browser will be available at the end of March 2007 and will be free for all Wii users to download till the end of June. After that period, Wii users will have to go to the Wii Shop Channel to download it for 500 Wii points.
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said the newest Wii Menu channel is another feature of the console to attract non-gamers.
Opera Software's executive vice president. devices, Scott Hedrick said the browser will bring power and reach of the internet to the hottest video game system available.
The browser, which is Abode Flash-enabled, actually facilitates internet on television screens, allowing users to browse with ease and visit websites. The pointing abilities of the Wii Remote is an added attraction with which users can click on links they want to see or to zoom into any part of the screen through the motion of the controller.
Wii has four other channels in addition to the internet channel -- Disc Channel, Photo Channel, Mii Channel and Wii Shop Channel. Another channel, Forecast Channel, is expected to go live on 20 December offering information on weather.
