In discussion with The Wall Street Journal, Japanese cell phone provider, NTT DoCoMo, is in discussion with unnamed game console developers to embed 3G service in handheld consoles. Considering devices such as Amazon's Kindle function over free 3G on the WhisperNet, this can be an option for players who want to be freed from the confines of WiFi.
All of this speculation points to the Nintendo 3DS. While nothing confirms that Nintendo will be offering an "always connected" 3G service for their users, the company was liberal in hinting toward a new method of online services for their users during last month's E3 keynote. It's even been hinted at as far back as last year. While we know that games and 3D films will be offered for download to the 3DS, as well as an improved connectivity service that will allow 3DS devices to interact without being powered on, we do not know if there will be an online service like Xbox Live or PSN, and we do not know if this service will be WiFi only. Clearly, there are many questions to be answered. Sony, too, could be in discussion with these wireless providers, although no information is known about the always rumored PSP2.
The biggest question, in the end, is about the price. While I am a huge proponent of 3G connectivity for games, I would want to know how much these devices would strain networks. Also, while downloads might not kill a network and keep costs low, if online play was offered over 3G, I strongly suspect that this service will not be a free one. As we close in upon the Japanese 3DS launch in less than 6 months, hopefully these questions will be answered.
Videogame-Device Makers in Talks About Portable 3G Connections [WSJ]
Contest:
8:00 PM on 07.08.2010 | 
If it's true, then it'll be like what is on the Kindle or nook (both free 3G/Wi-Fi). Now when I look back at E3, the 3DS announcement didn't really tell too much into detail about the hardware specs and whatnot. It was vague enough to give a general idea of what the new system is capable of and will be supporting in the coming year.
// Roth
These are still going to be Wi-Fi capable, too, so online gaming may still happen that way.
But dude, it's not because one person don't like it that Nintendo will drop that project. It's gonna happen that we want it or not. The iDevices market has gone too strong for Sony and Nintendo to ignore it at this point.
@ Bolduk - Sony and Nintendo have been ignoring computers for years, and PC's have a huge marketshare.
I can add the PC Market into the video game market, and declare that the PC market is too big to ignore, Nintendo and Sony should add Microsoft word functionality to their consoles to attempt to gain greater marketshare. But the fact that I said it, and intuitively it makes sense, doesn't make it true in actuality.
One would imagine any 3G enabled device over here would require a sim card and a subscription of some kind.
But i may be wrong.
They should go all the way and create a system that incorporates a cellular phone system. Use the touch screen and stylus to access the dialing system, or the dpad and buttons even. I'd take a Nintendo 3DS phone like that over my current phone, or an iPhone anyday.