the DS can be used to call other DSs like a phone?

Mai Valentine

Mai Valentine

Moderator
August 31, 2004 - Analysts have reported that the built-in microphone and 802.11b connectivity will enable users to use the Nintendo DS system as a "voice over IP" style phone system. This feature will essentially allow DS users to chat with each other when they are in a WiFi hotspot. According to this report, the mystery port that Nintendo hinted at a few days ago will be used for a microphone/headphone set that will make this function possible.


The report comes from the TNI Securities Electronic Entertainment Industry Update, an analyst report for video and computer game investors. Boris Markovich makes specific mention in his report: "The headset will allow gamers to use the DS as a phone handset enabling free phone calls over wireless network hotspots. We think that this will be a very compelling application."

The functionality will presumably only work between Nintendo DS systems -- don't expect to use the Nintendo DS to call your buddy on his landline or cellphone via this feature.

When contacted regarding this analyst report, Nintendo representatives stated, "Nintendo does not comment on speculation."

Source: IGN NDS (http://ds.ign.com/articles/543/543419p1.html)
 
I think the maximum range of the wifi DS's is something like 30 feet (correct me if I'm wrong, or if it's changed since then, which the initial statement would suggest...). If I am true in that statement then you can't misinterpret the wifi capability for the DS as "online" play. You still have to be in the same room or general area as the people you're playing against, I just think it's so that you have a little more freedom than if you are tethered to 3 or 4 friends via GBA link cables.

Nintendo has always had a heavy emphasis on multiplayer. Being the first system to include 4 controller ports, encouraging multiplayer through games like Animal Crossing, that sort of thing. They have nothing against online play, they just want to make sure they're gonna see some kind of cash flow from it.
 
That would actually be kinda cool to play wirelessly with other people in my classroom, since none of us pay attention to the teacher anyway :p
Only thing is, if you can only go 30 feet, wouldn't it be easier just to talk louder than normal?
 
Well, that's why I'm not 100% sure about the range of it, wait for Mai to post something on it as she'll probably know better than me.

Or maybe it's something like games need to be within a 30 foot radius to play, but you can talk to others over longer distances... or something like that.
 
Yeah, but it's more fun to guess and argue over those guesses :p

The DS isn't too far away, so we should be hearing more about it than we are...
 
I guess that's what I get for having faith in you Mai...


I do agree about the battery life thing, but keep in mind Nintendo has never sacrificed battery life for anything, so they'll have something up their sleeve.
 
stealth toilet said:
I do agree about the battery life thing, but keep in mind Nintendo has never sacrificed battery life for anything, so they'll have something up their sleeve.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's how the GBA SP came about. They claimed that in GBA, they tried to put a backlit screen in it but it "washed out" the colors and killed battery life. Hopefully they'll be smart with the DS and not waste people's money in about a year after it's release...
 
Ya, I was glad I didn't buy a GBA, because I had an original gameboy, and I understood how un-portable it was because of lighting issues, batteries, etc., so when the GBA SP came out I finally thought Nintendo upgraded enough from the very first GB to warrant buying a new one.
 
Neph, I was talking in the form of "I wish they would've done that for all the money wasted by the general public" not in the form of "Smart business sense - let's screw people out of money!".
 
Nephlabobo said:
SO..........

On the one hand, Nintendo says that gamers don't want online play with their GC.

Then - they do an about face and shove wireless online play onto players with the DS.

That makes alot of sense.
Click to expand...

There are differences between playing online at home and with the wireless supplied with the DS. For starters, you already have an internet connection with the DS and at home you may not. Secondly, it doesn't cost anything (as far as we know) to use the wireless features to play with people long distances away, meaning Nintendo doesn't have to charge the consumer anything to play, and it doesn't cost Nintendo anything, meaning they don't have to create a profitable online system.

Nintendo aren't against going online at all. They still produced the modem and broadband adaptors for any other developer to take advantage of, but since Nintendo isn't telling any developer to make their games include some online component, developers aren't doing it. Nintendo will be online when they can make money from it, when it's a popular enough feature in gaming. At the moment it's only a very small minority of console owners that actually go online with their console.
 
Nephlabobo said:
SO..........

On the one hand, Nintendo says that gamers don't want online play with their GC.

Then - they do an about face and shove wireless online play onto players with the DS.

That makes alot of sense.
Click to expand...

you are not really comparing the same ideals.

You see... WIFI is comparible to lan.  You are with a group a people..... in the same place... where as online you play over the Internet on servers to unknown people.

Nintendo Pushes multiplayer in a "1 room" type setting.

The Broadband adaptor is STILL supported by Nintendo.  WIFI is supported by Nintendo... its the same thing.   

So ... they are not being hypocritical.


There are differences between playing online at home and with the wireless supplied with the DS. For starters, you already have an internet connection with the DS and at home you may not. Secondly, it doesn't cost anything (as far as we know) to use the wireless features to play with people long distances away, meaning Nintendo doesn't have to charge the consumer anything to play, and it doesn't cost Nintendo anything, meaning they don't have to create a profitable online system.

Nintendo aren't against going online at all. They still produced the modem and broadband adaptors for any other developer to take advantage of, but since Nintendo isn't telling any developer to make their games include some online component, developers aren't doing it. Nintendo will be online when they can make money from it, when it's a popular enough feature in gaming. At the moment it's only a very small minority of console owners that actually go online with their console.
Click to expand...

yeah.... basically that :)


as being able to call.. that is cool. VoIP works pretty well.... and as long as its free.. I am cool with that.
As far as I know.. its free.

NOW.... if they charge for wifi access..etc... then I'll be rather pissed off.

BV :hat
 
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