12 Bizarre Phones From The 2000s You May Not Remember – SlashGear

Nokia was a pioneer in the mobile phone market and some of its early devices had become well known for their indestructible qualities, with many jokes existing about them being able to outlast civilization itself. By 2004, the mobile market was well diversified, and so many consumers were entering the market that manufacturers were working hard to offer something to differentiate their products from others. Likewise, video game technology had advanced significantly from the days of Atari and NES, with second and third-generation consoles being available along with newer and better handheld gaming devices. It should seem only natural to merge the technologies, so Nokia did just that.

The N-Gage was a cellular device and gaming device in a single package. Nokia was trying to capitalize on two established markets, creating a niche that would draw in customers in the area in which they fit into both. The N-Gage specs were decent, according to CNET, with Bluetooth, internet capability, expandable memory, an MP3 player, and a full-color display. The N-Gage had some of the right ingredients for a successful product. However, it was $300 and the games had to be purchased separately. With competition from Sony and Nintendo for the limited handheld gaming dollars, Nokia lost the battle, even if it won at “Call of Duty.”