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Microcell Solutions, a Canadian wireless carrier under the Fido brand name, has signed on as the exclusive wireless carrier for Nokia's N-Gage QD gaming smartphone in Canada. Nokia first stab at a mobile gaming platform didn't sell well, nor did it receive good reviews. The N-Gage QD is supposed to be more compact and easier to use.

Fido is including Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game card as a bonus to for those who purchase the N-Gage QD. The wireless carrier is selling the N-Gage QD for $150 (Canadian) with a service Agreement.

"Since our launch of PCS over seven years ago, Fido has been a recognized leader with youth and the young at heart," claims Rene Bousquet, VP of Marketing for Microcell Solutions. "With this device, a customer can be on the bus heading to school or work and play a game against a friend in Europe, pick up e-mail, view picture messages or check their daily schedule through the PDA feature-and, of course, make a phone call.

The N-Gage QD runs the dozen or so games already produced for the original N-Gage. However, the N-Gage QD is more compact at 5.05 ounces and 4.65 x 2.68 x .87 inches., has a hot-swappable MultiMediaCard slot for easier game switching, longer battery life, improved gaming controls, a brighter screen, and a new N-Gage Arena launcher application.

The new launcher aims to make it easier for gamers to connect to N-Gage users around the world over mobile networks via the N-Gage Arena. The launcher is accessed from an icon in the game deck's main applications menu, similar to other N-Gage software. N-Gage Arena members can communicate with one another, download exclusive content, access rankings statistics, participate in events and activities, and more. The new launcher will be made available to owners of the original N-Gage in May. As with the original, N-Gage QD owners can participate in close-range multiplayer gaming via Bluetooth.

Gamers will be happy to know that the company has eschewed the "taco" style of the original N-Gage for a more traditional and more flattering phone style. According to Nokia, the changes listed above are a result of the feedback they've received. Senior Vice President of Games, Ilkka Raiskinen, said "with improved gaming ergonomics, gamers can now start to play games at the push of a button and enjoy the increased responsiveness of the game keys. We also added support for hot-swap MMC and extended the battery life. For phone calls, we reoriented the speaker and microphone to support 'classic talking'."

The N-Gage QD is available in two versions: a GSM 900/1800 variant (Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific) and a GSM 850/1900 variant (Americas). As with all other Series 60 smartphones, the N-Gage QD also offers personal information management, an XHTML browser, email and the possibility to download and install additional Series 60 software.

Crash Nitro Cart

SiMs Bustin' Out

N-Gage exclusive titles include Ashen, Pathway to Glory and Pocket Kingdom: Own The World, as well The Sims: Bustin' Out, Crash Nitro Kart and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour

Operation Shadow

Mobile Gaming

JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation (the parent company of this website) announced back in May that the addressable audience of portable gamers will nearly double from 23 million to 43 million by 2009.

According to JupiterResearch, the addressable audience of portable gamers are users of dedicated game devices such as Nintendo's GameBoy, users of hybrid game devices such as Nokia's N-Gage or Tapwave's Zodiac, and gamers that play more than five hours per week on their PDAs.