Awesome news! I've fell out with xbox live lately, (Not really the service, just that 360 seems dead/dying now, ha ha. Like 2 games I want this year for it), but I'm fed up of paying for live. I dont regret it for the halo 3 days, but nothing has come close to that since for me. If xbox live isnt free for the next console, I'm not bothering. I may not even bother if it is free, seeing all the bad news about them lately about their poor/petty/stupid behaviour about how games can be allowed on their system.
But, back to topic, ha ha, its cool Nintendo Network is free, but, will it actually be on standard, even perhaps better, than the likes of PSN/Xbox Live? Thats the only thing that worrys me about this. I love the miiverse idea though, that is definately next generation thinking to me, now they just need everything else we expect in a service like xbox live/PSN and I'll respect Nintendo Network!