Gizmondo hits the UK on March 19th

Dated...

Despite speculation concerning a launch late last year, it turns out that the UK debut of the impressive-sounding Gizmondo handheld won't be with us until March 19th, a week after the arrival of the Nintendo DS, worryingly. Technically, the new multi-purpose handheld looks like a winner - but it'll be competing with big-name rivals; at first the DS, and later the PSP. For all that, Tiger Telematics Gizmondo is still a very interesting prospect, boasting exclusive titles from several firms, and features that offer a strong challenge even to Sony's sleek vision of the future. At first, the new system will be sold predominantly through Gizmondo's sleek showcase store in Regent Street, London, though we gather online purchasing will also be an option.

The hybrid device will even work as a phone, and comes with a contract free SIM card, costing £229. "Gizmondo is the British challenger in a market that will witness a spectacular boom this year," enthused Carl Freer, Gizmondo's MD. "We've been able to introduce exciting new features like GPS into gaming, and with such a remarkable list of features, the Gizmondo is the most powerful, feature-laden piece of multi-entertainment hardware available." Games pricing will vary, but titles like Conflict: Vietnman and Richard Burns Rally mean that the Gizmondo cannot be overlooked lightly.

The system also includes GPS functionality, a camera, messaging, M-PEG4 / MP3 playback, and even runs on Windows CE - whether this will tempt gamers away from the traditional players however, remains very much to be seen.

By Luke Guttridge