Nintendo on Tuesday started offering Web browsing through the Wii video-game console at no additional charge.

Nintendo had charged $5 to download the Internet Channel, which essentially is the company's version of the Opera Web browser. Using the Wii remote control, customers can check e-mail and browse the Web on a TV connected to Wii.

"Effective immediately, people who want to browse the Internet using their Wii consoles will be able to do so at no added cost," Nintendo said in a statement.

In launching the Internet Channel in November 2006, Wii initially offered Web browsing at no charge as a promotion. About eight months later, the download cost 500 Wii points, which is equal to $5.

Starting at the end of October, people who bought the Internet Channel will be able to download a game of equal value without charge.

Nintendo dropped the charge for Web browsing a day after it announced that a new version of the Wii Fit Plus game will be available Oct. 4 in North America.

Wii Fit Plus will replace the current Wii Fit in retail stores and will be bundled with the Wii Balance Board accessory for a suggested retail price of $100. People who own Wii Fit can buy an upgrade disc for $20.

The release of new versions of popular games such as Wii Fit Plus is important because games drive console sales. The video-game industry suffered its fifth consecutive decline in overall sales as a result of the economic recession and because of the lack of new blockbuster release.

Sony and Microsoft have recently cut prices of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, respectively, in order to help jumpstart sales. Nintendo has yet to lower the $250 price of the Wii.

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