UK gets cheap ADSL, or does it?

Following Telkom`s recent introduction of ADSL, local Internet users have been weighing up the advantages of getting faster connection speeds (theoretically) at a steep price. It seems that we`re not the only country that is looking for cheaper ADSL services. TheRegister reports that a UK Internet service provider, Freedial.biz, has announced that it will offer 512k ADSL services from just lb12.99 a month. Freedial says money generated by its premium services will be used to subsidise the low-cost offering. [More at TheRegister]

Internet portal Yahoo will launch a service today that will allow users to play popular PC games on the Internet - for a fee. Reuters reports that Yahoo hopes the Games on Demand service will bring more members of the die-hard gaming community to its site and drive demand for the broadband service it recently launched with SBC Communications. Games on Demand will offer a selection of 40 titles, including Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider Chronicles. Players will be able to rent single games for a three-day period at $4.95, while three games for 30 days will set them back $9.95.

On the subject of gaming, Nintendo has sold its 49% ownership position in UK-based gaming developer Rare. While the company said it had the ability to continue its relationship with Rare, it decided not to for business reasons. During 2001, Rare accounted for only 9.5% of total Nintendo software sales worldwide with that number dropping to 1.5% this year. Nintendo will still retain the exclusive rights for all original properties and franchises featured in games developed by Rare. These include Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. I wonder if Microsoft`s recent interest in the gaming developer had anything to do with Nintendo`s decision?