Nokia´s new handheld game deck, the Nokia N-Gage, is set to put blockbuster games such as Sonic The Hedgehog and Tomb Raider into the palm of people´s hands later this year - in time for the Christmas rush. The pocket-sized device with its high-quality colour screen will offer an exciting games experience with the added benefit that you can play on-line games where you like.

You can also use its built-in Bluetooth technology to play with small groups of friends nearby or GPRS to take on rivals continents apart! It´s a phone too, operating over three bands, so you can use it anywhere in the world for ordinary calls. And its GPRS (2.5G) data capability gives ´always on´ access to e-mails, the Internet, information and entertainment services and video images.

But its primary function is fun. That´s why Nokia has given N-Gage a name rather than a product number to indicate its unique place in the market. Nokia is working with world-renowned games publishers and developers to create an appealing catalogue of high quality games. The company will also act as a games publisher itself to bring branded N-Gage titles to a rapidly expanding portfolio to suit all tastes.

Collaboration with mobile network operators and service providers is expected to produce new games-related mobile services such as downloadable game levels, additional features and game characters. T-Mobile was the first mobile network operator to agree to co-develop such services aimed at creating online gaming communities. As a result, mobile gamers will have an easy-to-use experience that allows games-related content to be downloaded over T-Mobile networks in Europe and the US. Games are to be sold on game cards, using the MultiMediaCard standard, in major retail outlets, games-specific and video game retail outlets, as well as in regular mobile phone delivery channels.

Games giants Sega, Eidos, Activision, Taito and THQ are already working with Nokia to bring high-quality games to market, ranging from arcade legends - aimed at ´retro-minded´ players - to the very latest releases.

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