N-Gaging times ahead

First-up, I wasn’t that big of a fan of the Nokia N-Gage device(s), but I am a massive fan of mobile gaming – whatever form it takes. The guys over at Nokia have stuck with the market for quite a while now and I think they’ve come good with the N-Gage service. If you remember the original device and have a few dubious memories, think again, the device is no more but the games remain as a service.

Gamers can log on to the N-Gage site and download a software link that connects them to Nokia’s library of games, which they reckon will be around 30 by the middle of 2008. They already have the likes of EA, Gameloft and Glu Mobile making titles for the service, and who knows, they could get a few killer franchises on board – Spore maybe?

MyTake – Nobody really “owns” mobile gaming, it’s an open field for any brand to go in and do something great. Sure, we have handhelds from Nintendo and Sony, but a solid content-based system with some appealing titles? Not yet. With Apple getting further and further in to the mobile space, I think a true games service isn’t far off for them either. Nokia beat them to the punch on this one – can they make they most of it?

I'll have an iPod with the lot, thanks....

Is Apple about to change the music game again? Jobs and co are apparently working on a deal to offer fee access to the entire iTunes music library based on a premium-purchase model for the iPod and iPhone. Basically, you pay a bit more cash for iPod/iPhone and you get the music for free…or maybe at a reduced cost. Details aren’t clear at the moment, but it seems to be similar to mobile phone plans as in the more you pay for you plan, the more free stuff you get.

Another rumour doing the rounds is that there could be a subscription model on the cards for the iPhone, again no details have been released, but it would make sense for them to extend their music model into that sector, which is largely dominated by the telcos.

MyTake – Is there no stopping the juggernaut that is Apple? These guys innovate like the rest of us breath. Once again, the power of the platform (iTunes) could breath new life into the record industry by opening another way for customers to purchase music. Companies are finally coming to terms with the actual worth of content and I think that this is something that consumers will welcome. At the end of the day, it’s about empowering us with choices and options, and the more choices and options we have, the more records you’ll sell.