The Wall Street Journal reports that Japanese wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo has said it is in talks with video game console manufacturers about adding 3G connectivity to future generations of handheld consoles.

Though NTT DoCoMo declined to identify which companies it was talking to, there are really not that many possibilities. The handheld console market is effectively split between Nintendo’s Gameboy DS (and soon, 3DS) and Sony’s PlayStation Portable. Neither of these companies would comment, either, however.

Both the DS and PSP use WiFi, and Nintendo has said its 3DS will include advanced connectivity features. Nintendo’s President has previously expressed interest in the Kindle’s method of bundling free 3G connectivity with its devices rather than requiring a monthly fee.

If a game console came out with that kind of 3G connect-anywhere-for-free ability, not only might it do for gaming what the Kindle has done for e-books, but it might also provide mobile Internet access to kids who might otherwise have a hard time getting it.

And, perhaps most interestingly to TeleReaders:

Meanwhile, Sony is developing a portable device that shares characteristics of hand-held game machines, e-book readers and netbook computers, according to people familiar with the matter. Some Sony e-book readers already come with 3G connections but it isn’t clear if a new wireless gadget will use carrier networks.

Characteristics of game machines, e-book readers, and netbook computers? Sounds like an iPad to me.

The Wall Street Journal quotes a Tokyo analyst noting that gaming devices and smartphones are converging. Certainly the numerous high-quality games available for the iPhone provide proof of that, as do Nintendo’s plans for e-reading on the 3DS.

The prospect of playing console games over 3G is interesting, though it would probably work better in Japan than over here, where AT&T’s 3G network is barely able to cope with all the iPhones clogging it up. How would it deal with millions of Nintendo and Sony gamers on top of that?

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