Several countries on mainland will be getting the next month, manufacturers Tiger Telematics confirmed today. May 19th will see the arrival of the innovative piece of kit in France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Scandanavia. 349 Euros will get you the standard kit, 289 Euros the value pack. Meanwhile, as in the UK, an advertising-subsidised Gizmondo will be available for less, 189 Euros we're told. The latter package will require the user to watch three ads per day, but does come with twenty free downloads by way of a sweetener.

Several retailers from around the continent are already expecting great interest in the new handheld, but the Gizmondo was perhaps most welcomed in Italy. "We know intrinsically that this system will sweep the market, as colour did, and change forever our entertainment priorities," beamed Matteo di Silvia, the man who's company first introduced colour television to Italy.

The Gizmondo has been impressing critics since its launch in March, thanks to a dazzling array of functionality, and launched in Ireland yesterday. The handheld faces some stiff from the however, which has been doing a roaring trade in Europe. Sony's is also due a launch later this year. More on the ever-intensifying battle of the handheld's soon.

By Luke Guttridge

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