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Nokia Relaunches N-Gage As Smartphone Service

Nokia will revive N-Gage this week as a multiplayer gaming service that will work on its popular line of smartphones. The service will offer games from major publishers, like Electronic Arts, as well as smaller developers like Digital Chocolate that focus on the mobile gaming market.

The original 2003 N-Gage and its successor--2004's N-Gage QD--were primarily intended to compete with portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo DS and the Sony PlayStation Portable. But owners had to remove the battery to insert gaming cartridges, hoist the bulky device to their heads and hold it sideways to make an actual call. Gadget hounds dubbed it the Frankenphone.

Nokia sought help from the Silicon Valley design firm Ideo--whose hits include the original Apple computer mouse--in designing the new service. The new N-Gage permits users to see what games their friends have on their phones and whether they are online. Customers also will be able to sample games free before buying them.

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