No they are not able to. As you said, they thought it would be a bad business decision, ie they would not gain asmuch as they would loose, so they decided to go for free online, and advertised it that way. So they can't, especailly now that they took that stance and advertised free on line. Now there hands are tied, if they started charging now people could sue for false advertising. They are stuck where they are at until their next system when they charge for online right off the bat.

Once again you are wrong, you are saying they CAN'T do it. That means that it is totally impossible and even if the world was gonna explode killing everyone, they still couldn't.

Once again, GET YOUR WORDS RIGHT.

Again, legaly they can't. Business model wise they can't. If they could, why are they missing out on a billion dollars a year? ( I believe that is the revenue brought in by live last year) Next sytem they put yes they can, but for now sorry their hands are tied by the decisions they have made. Sony is not a person but an internation corporation and they have to abide by consumer rights laws set up in every nation, which include fals advertising, such as free to play online. Same reason they had to do refunds for some people for removing other os.

http://xbox360.gamespy.com/articles/110/1104553p1.html (1 billion in revenue 65% estimated profit)

edit: They can't because as a business it would cost them more to do it right now than they would gain, and as a corporation beholden to its shareholders they would not let it happen. Sony has to turn profits on their investments.

Once again, they CAN, but they wont.
It doesn't matter if it goes against the law or anything else, they CAN still do it no?

Can you break the law? Yes, you can that doest mean you will, because it will turn out for the worse.

If you can give me one reason why, if all the Heads of SONY, decided that they would start using a monthly subscription on PSN, They couldn't do that, then please do. And that does not include, its breaking the law, its against their business model, because they can still do it, its just they would be in trouble.

 To some extent, the wii is being backhand by Balmer and Co as well. First of all Microsoft has more money than nintendo and sony. MS DOES NOT NEED to charge for online, but they do. I once asked my uncle why a dog licks his balls, his response "because he can." Same thing goes for MS. Yes, xbox live offers unparralleled, unmatched, and unrivaled features. But is it really worth $50-60 a year? Well, it doesn't matter what I think because MS IS GONNA DO WHAT THEY WANT. And let me tell you right now, MS is NOT scared of sony or nintendo. PROOF: They have the balls to INCREASE the price of something their competition is GIVING AWAY FOR FREE. Brazenly, MS rolls ahead with price increases in an economic depression. Patcher said a few years back that if the PSN takes off, xbox live will go free. Faced with increased competition, the opposite has happened. Microsoft is saying to ninty and sony, we don't care what you give away or do with your online networks, we aren't scared of losing customers to you, and we will do what we want. Why??? Because they can

Before anyone tries to get cute and say "well actually it's a slap in the face to xbox owners" I will politely tell you that you are wrong.  Why??  Because xbox liver is the best, most integrated online COMMUNITY!!  And the enormous amount of people playing online prove this beyond the shadow of a doubt.

its a slap in the face because not only can MS charge for what should be free( according to some people), but they can increase the fee for it and people will still pay. Of course that is because its such a great service (at least in my opinion, worth every penny even after the increase.

They wouldn't do it cause they would be in trouble.

the only person that it slaps in the face are us customers, it helps sony and nintendo...