BT Openzone is
building 607 new Wi-Fi access points in games retailers across the UK to allow
players to download content including free trials, new game levels and
promotional broadcasts.
The hotspots will be installed at
GAME,
Gamestation,
HMV,
Toys R US,
Smyths Toys and other selected
independent retailers across the UK and Ireland.
BT has initially partnered with
Nintendo to offer the
service to users of the console maker's DS portable gaming
unit.
"The
Nintendo
Wi-Fi Connection service is already proving extremely popular with users
across the world, and it's a strong proof-point that Wi-Fi is becoming
mainstream," said Chris Bruce, general manager of BT Wireless Broadband.
"We will really see Wi-Fi coming of age this year and this agreement is
taking BT Openzone even further into the high street and retail parks by giving
gamers access to Wi-Fi in an easy and accessible format at the point of
purchase."
Games initially available to download include one-level demos of
Polarium,
Meteos and Shigeru
Miyamoto's
Nintendog
'Pic'.
Forthcoming downloads in April and May will include playable demos of
Pokémon Link,
Trauma
Centre: Under the Knife, and Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is
Your Brain?.
Nintendo recently reported signing up a million
wireless users in the four months since the launch of the DS console.
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