The New York Times: Nintendo of America will offer free wireless Internet access for its Nintendo DS portable game system at McDonald’s restaurants. Customers will be able to play select DS games with other players around the world.
McDonald’s offers wireless Internet, or Wi-Fi, access to laptop users for a fee in 6,000 restaurants nationwide, but the free Nintendo arrangement will permit the DS machines to play without a laptop.
“This is such an interesting direction for McDonald’s,” said Anita Frazier, an entertainment industry analyst with the NPD Group, a research firm. “This could encourage kids to go to McDonald’s to play games. It is like the kids’ version of Starbucks’ wireless hot spots.”
Wireless access for the DS will be provided by Wayport of Austin, Tex., which supplies Wi-Fi to McDonald’s. Nintendo will pay Wayport an undisclosed fee for the service.
