Nintendo and Sony discussing 3G for future portables?

Having wi-fi on your multimedia/gaming devices is all very well, but it’s still hard to locate a hotspot when you actually need one in most of the major cities.

That could be at an end if reports emerging from Japan are true of ‘various players’ in the portable video games market talking to phone carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. about adding 3G network connections to their next consoles.

Speaking in The Washington Post, NTT DoCoMo President Ryuji Yamada says, "Videogame makers know that in order for portable game machines to take the next step forward, they need wireless communication", before coyly revealing “we are discussing this with various players”.

No specific mention was made of either Nintendo or Sony, but considering they’re pretty much the only significant players in the portable gaming sphere - aside from Apple, whose iPhone already boasts 3G - it doesn’t take too much brainpower to work out that they’re the most likely culprits.

However, the one company that has already revealed the next-gen portable console, Nintendo, didn’t announce any 3G connectivity for the 3DS when it was revealed at E3 last month, so either the rumour is well off the mark, or the big ‘N’ is planning a massive surprise when the full details of the machine are announced.