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"Announced during an investor's program, Nintendo president\u00A0Satoru Iwata has finally\u00A0confirmed the Nintendo Network, stating that an online infrastructure is already in place for the upcoming service.\r\n\r\nThe Nintendo Network\u00A0will exist for both the\u00A0Nintendo 3DS and the upcoming Wii U, and should become an interesting competitor since it functions for both devices. According to IGN,\u00A0the president &amp;quot;quickly drew a contrast&amp;quot; with Nintendo's previous attempts and smaller app stores:\r\nUnlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers.\r\nThe company has just revealed a number of details, including the fact that\u00A0Nintendo will allow personalized accounts for its\u00A0Wii U console. The company has also confirmed that it's exploring the idea of digitally distributing its titles through the network, and has also stated that paid downloads that extend the gaming experience (like songs) will be available as well.\r\n\r\nIn July, Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime said that the Wii U would launch after April 1, suggesting a mid-2012 launch for the device that was\u00A0first unveiled at E3 2011.\r\n\r\nWe reported back in December that the\u00A0Japanese gaming giant was rumored to deliver a \u201Cfull-blown\u201D app store for the Wii U.\u00A0\u00A0If all the rumors hold true,\u00A0the company is set to deliver a new experience on the Wii U that will utilize the iPad-like tablet controller and deliver a more integrated app experience for gamers."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/01/27/nintendos-answer-to-xbox-live-is-finally-confirmed-nintendo-network/>