Prediction: Xbox 360 SKU update March/April. (Wireless, HDD size)

[jcp234]

Squilliam said:
One in five broadband users in the US and Europe is hooked up to a wireless network in their home, prompting analysts Strategy Analytics to suggest that Wi-Fi is emerging as a "mass market phenomenon".

The report found that seven per cent of all households now have a wireless network. The US is the leading market with 8.4 per cent penetration, followed by the Nordics with 7.9 per cent.

In the UK penetration rates are at 6.1 per cent and 5.1 per cent in Germany.

When the numbers are crunched to include just broadband users, the survey found that 20 per cent of broadband subscribers across the US and Europe now use Wi-Fi to share their internet connection between PCs and other devices.

"Wi-Fi has become the preferred networking technology for affluent early adopters," analyst David Mercer said. "Rising ownership of laptop PCs and other portable internet devices will make Wi-Fi the dominant home networking choice for most broadband subscribers."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/11/wireless_wifi/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

So one in 5 broadband users had wireless in 2006 so the exclusion of wireless in the original design does make sense. Now that its 2009 or 3 years later one would expect that the wireless usage would have increased by at least 50% if not more than doubled.

The real question is when, not if they will include wireless because that functionality is being included in pretty much everything now. The other question is will they add it to the media ready SKUs -> Premium/Elite which make up 50% of the sales for better targetting or will I be partially wrong with them possibly including the Arcade SKU as well.

 

I have a wireless network installed in my home with Verizon FiOS. My laptop and others are wirelessly connected; however, my 360 is wired.

Also, whenever I have large downoads or resource instensive streaming on my laptop (which is rare)...I wire my laptop.

Wireless networking is capable of meeting the average joe's internet demands, but I do not think it is suitable or necessary for gaming especially considering how expensive this generation of HD consoles are relative to past generations...added wireless functionality is an added cost, and I like Microsoft's current approach.

For those who want wireless capabilities, they are free to purchase the add on...