Nintendo insists the iPhone isn't a competitor!

[thetonestarr]

averyblund said:

City17 said:
Skype probably not coming to DSi after all!

There was some speculation yesterday about Skype on DSi after a Skype rep told TechRadar: "Whilst we can't comment on any future plans to bring Skype to Nintendo's DSi, it would technically be possible."

The words 'technically possible' are, in the scrimmage of the blogosphere, a kind of shorthand for 'entirely inevitable', and the so the sun set yesterday on a UK population moderately confident that it would one day be making calls via DSi.

It woke up this morning to less optimistic news. A Nintendo spokeperson has told CVG, "[w]e have no plans to release a Skype application for Nintendo DS or DSi."

However, just as 'technically possible' doesn't constitutes confirmation, 'no plans' doesn't constitute disconfirmation. VOIP on DSi could still happen. Skype just may not be the facilitator.

Or it may.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/DSi/Nintendo+DSi/news.asp?c=12827

 

Ninty would be so stupid not to encourage Skype. I think one general theme of the last few years is handheld convergence. MP3 players are now cell phones, with internet, and camera, and the ability to play (shitty) games. Sony saw this coming with the PSP and now Ninty seems to get it too with the DSi. People want to carry around the least amount of stuff they can. Both Sony and Nintendo should have released a GSM based handheld as a option years ago. I would own one if they did, but instead I simply can't find the worth in carrying around yet another device.

 

Ah, yes. Makes perfect sense. Handheld convergence being key is exactly why the N-Gage controls such a large percent of the marketshare today, and why the PSP is currently beating the DS.

 

 

...wait, that's not how it worked? Ah.

 

While I agree that making the DS capable of Skype would be wonderful, I can guarantee not including it will never significantly affect DS marketshare.

Besides, Nintendo doesn't HAVE to have plans to do it. It's eBay's decision to develop Skype for the DS - not Nintendo's.