Wii/WiiConnect24

WiiConnect24 is a feature of the Wii console first announced at E3 2006 by Nintendo. It enables the user to remain connected to the Internet while the console is on standby. For example, a friend can visit another player's Wii town and leave messages in Animal Crossing: City Folk without the other player being present. WiiConnect24 is sometimes confused with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which is used to provide online gameplay over Nintendo's servers. Online gameplay games for the Wii can use both the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service and WiiConnect24.

Service
WiiConnect24 is used to receive content such as Wii Message Board messages sent from other Wii consoles, Miis, e-mails, updated channel and game content, and notification of software updates. If the Standby Connect mode of WiiConnect24 is enabled, this content can also be received when the Wii is left in standby mode.

WiiConnect24 can be turned on or off via the setup interface. If it is on, the user is allowed to enable or disable Standby Connect mode. While the console is in standby, the power LED indicates the current status of the standby connection, red indicating Standby Connect is off, yellow indicating Standby Connect mode is on. If the power button on the console is pressed and held down for three to four seconds, the Wii goes into standby mode with Standby Connect off. If the Wii is cut off from power and power is later restored, it goes into standby mode with Standby Connect mode off and WiiConnect24 will not operate until the console is turned on.

The Wii Optical Drive will glow a neon-blue color when data has been received through WiiConnect24 in Standby Connect mode and, with firmware 3.0 and above, it will briefly flash when the console is turned on. The brightness level of this blue color can be changed via the Setup Interface with the options of Bright, Dim or Off. When game messages are received with pictures, the player can customize them in the Photo Channel. The player can also send them to other Wii consoles when they are registered. The player can also opt-out of receiving messages from Nintendo.

Channels
The Forecast and News channels require that both WiiConnect24 and Standby Connection are enabled to work; if WiiConnect24 is enabled and Standby Connection is disabled, the channels gives an error upon launch and return the user to the Wii Menu. The reason for this requirement is unclear, as the channels still operate even if the Wii is consistently shut-down fully by holding the power button for four seconds.

The following channels use WiiConnect24.


 * Mii Channel
 * Wii Shop Channel
 * Forecast Channel
 * News Channel
 * Everybody Votes Channel
 * Check Mii Out Channel/Mii Contest Channel
 * Mario Kart Wii Channel
 * Nintendo Channel
 * Wii Speak Channel