Nintendo Gets Its Own WiFi Router

Nintendo has announced a Wi-Fi router, for use with the DS and the Wii.
But “Why?” asks Wired.

The Wii and the DS handheld both have Wi-Fi clients built-in, and both will work with any existing router. The DS was designed to work at public hotspots.

Some Nintendo users, however, report difficulty in connecting to their wireless networks, and this box could help. The three-position switch on the back lets you select either Router, Bridge or Auto.

Apple has been selling Airport routers for years, and they are pretty much guaranteed to work with a Mac out of the box. For home gamers seeking an easy solution, Nintendo’s US$53 WiFi box might work. Maybe they’ll even add a tv tuner later.

Nintendo sold 518,300 DS Lite systems in the U.S. last month, the first time any game console has sold over half a million units in the August.