Early this morning, Nintendo announced that will plans to start selling game software for its popular new handheld, the Game Boy Advance, over the Internet starting Friday. The effort is apparently an attempt to lure older players who frequently shop online, said a company spokesman.

To initiate Nintendo’s move to the online realm, the Mobile GB adapter will be released that will include Nintendo’s new golf game for Game Boy Color packaged in. By connecting to Nintendo's server, gamers will be able to send game results to friends or join golf tournaments organized by Nintendo, the spokesman said. If you’re curious, here’s Nintendo’s Mobile Golf site.

Nintendo has hinted at eCommerce in the past and had said it would roll out something to this extent alongside the GBA, so this is not terribly alarming. It is good to see Nintendo sowing the seeds for its online network, though if/how any of this make the transition to the U.S. remains to be seen. Internet capable mobile phones are not as popular, inexpensive or widespread in North American as they are in Japan. Although the Mobile GB is for GBC it is compatible with GBA and will likely be the means of online GBA play (at least in Japan). Regardless, readers can take comfort in knowing Nintendo is developing online plans for U.S. gamers too & it is certainly good to see Nintendo sowing the seeds for its online network already.

The Mobile GB with Golf game pack-in will be priced at 5,800 yen (roughly $46), the same price Nintendo had previously put on the adapter alone.