Analysts discuss Nintendo Network, some say it's the right step, others say they're late to the party

Billy Pidgeon, M2 Research
Mr. Iwata's comments regarding Nintendo Network during Nintendo's recent Q3 briefing were guarded, as usual, but indicate that Nintendo now considers a strong online network component crucial to the company's success. Iwata's strategic commercial guidelines for Nintendo Network are expansive: adding value to game purchases with add-on paid or free content transactions rather than exploiting customer relationships with pay to play schemes while maintaining open business models for third party publishers. However, his remarks on timing and alienating consumers without Internet connections are not forward thinking. Iwata said Nintendo "will make a bold attempt when the time is ripe." Perhaps Nintendo isn't yet ready, but the time has been ripe for some five years now, and the company is late to the party.

Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities
I absolutely think they are doing the right thing, and think they will eventually get it right. No, I don’t think they will be able to compete with XBL and PSN until they go through the same growing pains that the others went through. It took XBL at least 3 years to be great, and took PSN even longer. I think Nintendo will succeed, but not for at least two years after launch, and by then, the others will be bigger and will have created greater barriers to entry.
What do you think about this?
Full analyst commentary here: http://www.industrygamers.com/news/nintendo-network-late-to-the-party/

A Nintendo Network would be awsome. Get DLC's for Wii and 3DS games, better internet connections, less online lag maybe...It would be great.