N-Gage QD key messages
 
? The N-Gage QD is the latest game deck in the N-Gage portfolio
? The N-Gage QD is a pocketable game device that allows gamers to be connected to other gamers while on the move
? The N-Gage QD is a compact device with a hot-swappable MMC slot for instant gaming, longer battery life, improved gaming controls, brighter screen and the new N-Gage Arena launcher application.
? The N-Gage QD is also a powerful communications device that combines gaming features with smartphone functionality

N-Gage QD Questions and Answers
 
When will N-Gage QD be available?

The N-Gage QD game deck is expected to be available in May 2004 for Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific and in June 2004 for the Americas. The N-Gage QD will be available in two versions: a GSM 900/1800 variant (Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific) and a GSM 850/1900 variant (Americas).

How much will N-Gage QD cost?

The street price of the N-Gage QD will vary depending on local operator subsidies and taxes. Nokia is aiming to focus on three main price points: ?99/$99 with a contract, ?149/$149 with a pre-paid contract, and ?199/$199 as the unsubsidised retail price.

Is N-Gage QD considered N-Gage 2.0?

No, the N-Gage QD is an additional N-Gage device, which supports the existing game catalogue. There are no major technological changes to the platform, as you would have in a ?second generation? product. We have improved the design and gaming ergonomics.
 
What does ?QD? stand for?

When naming this device, we wanted to find a combination of letters that would be international and work in many different languages. Our marketing organization was looking at the key product features of the N-Gage platform and they were inspired by the fact that you can carry your N-Gage device with you all the time so that it?s easy to play whenever you want, every day. Which is where the QD comes from: it?s Latin for every day (quaque die).
 
What are the main differences between N-Gage and N-Gage QD game decks?

The main differences with N-Gage QD compared to N-Gage are:
? Hot-swappable MMC slot
? Classic talk
? Longer battery life
? Smaller design
? Improved gaming ergonomics
? No MP3 player or radio
? Dual-band (two variants: GSM 900/1800 and GSM 850/1900)

What are the improved gaming ergonomics features?

? Smooth game controller using carbon pill technology,
? Separated OK key and game controller for accurate steering
? Bright and clear active matrix (TFT) color display with user-controllable brightness
? Easy game start thanks to hot-swappable MMC card and game autostart. One-key game start with OK key in standby mode
? Rubber grip for sturdy hold
? Good tactile feel of game action keys

Will you sell N-Gage and N-Gage QD at the same time?

Yes. Consumers will decide which game deck they want to buy. There are some consumers who continue to want the additional functionality (e.g. MP3 player/radio or tri-band phone) in N-Gage. In some markets, both game decks will be sold. In others, that may not be the case.

Why didn?t you implement the N-Gage QD design in the first place?

That?s a good question. We wanted to make our mark in the games industry quickly and establish ourselves as a leader and innovator in the mobile gaming space. Although the design of the N-Gage is not perfect, we felt that it was important to show what could be done when you combine games and mobility.

Wouldn?t it have been better to wait until you had a better device/more titles?

In retrospect, we could have done a couple of things differently. However, given the recent announcements in the games industry, mobile online connectivity is going to be a fundamental development in gaming. We don?t regret coming out as quickly as we did and we are looking forward to showcasing the N-Gage platform and what it can do over the coming years.

How do you think N-Gage QD will compare with the competition (e.g. PSP, Nintendo DS, etc.)?

It?s clear that we are heading in the right direction with our vision of mobile online multiplayer gaming, given the recent activity in the industry. We feel that N-Gage QD proves to the games industry ? and consumers ? that Nokia is here for the long term.

When will you launch another N-Gage device? Will there be more in 2004?

The N-Gage platform will have a range of devices over the coming years. Right now, it?s too early to speculate about future devices, but it?s clear that we won?t be launching any other new devices during 2004.

Are the N-Gage games backwards compatible?

Absolutely. Both N-Gage and N-Gage QD owners are able to play the same games and access the same N-Gage Arena functionality. In addition, the two game decks can be connected easily via Bluetooth wireless technology for those spontaneous head-to-head gaming challenges!
N-Gage QD features

What are the key features of the N-Gage QD game deck?

It is a high-quality, interactive mobile gaming device with excellent phone features. It has gaming optimized functionalities (e.g. 3D graphics, high quality color display with backlight) and an design including an eight-way direction controller and Bluetooth, which enables local multiplayer gaming, and GPRS, which offers the possibility for gaming over a wide area
network. There will also be a catalogue of branded, high performance games.
Other key features include: an easy-to-use user interface, a comprehensive range of applications including personal information management tools, email, XHTML browsing, and multimedia messaging (MMS).

Features:
? Large color screen with backlight, 176x208 pixels with up to 4096 colours ? Series 60 platform and Symbian Operating System (OS)
? Bluetooth wireless technology for gaming
? An eight-way directional game controller for game play
? Multimedia messaging (MMS)
? Dual-band (two variants: GSM 900/1800 and GSM 850/1900), GPRS mobile phone
? Comprehensive range of applications; e-mail and personal information management
? XHTML browsing
? JavaTM application support
? Connectivity: calendar synchronization with PC
Usage times:
? Games up to 5 -10 h (depending on game type)
? Talk up to 5 h
? Standby up to 11 days
Size:
? Volume 123cc
? Dimensions (L x W x D) 118 x 68 x 22 mm
? Weight 143g

What is the processor size and manufacturer?

The processor is ARM9 with 104 'Mhz.

About the 3D graphics, do you have a dedicated graphics processor?
No.

What kind of frame rates will the final device run at?

In the current games, we are running at approximately 25 frames per second.

Is the N-Gage platform based on the Nokia Series 60 platform?

Yes, the N-Gage game decks run on the Nokia Series 60 platform and the Symbian OS (operating system).

Does the N-Gage platform support Bluetooth?

Yes. Bluetooth is supported, allowing connectivity to any compatible devices supporting Bluetooth wireless technology, such as a PC with a compatible Bluetooth card and other N-Gage game decks to allow for locally connected multiplayer games.

Does the N-Gage QD sales package include a separate game card?

The games are sold separately on game cards (using the MultiMediaCard standard) and of course users can purchase as many memory cards as desired for storing music, other content, etc. Retailers or operators/carriers may choose to bundle game cards with the N-Gage QD when they sell it.

What are the plans beyond launch (e.g. hardware upgrades)?

We have not announced any plans at this point in time.
 
Can most applications run simultaneously?

Yes. For example, when you play a game, you can answer a phone call and then continue the game.

Does the N-Gage platform support GPRS? What benefits does GPRS offer?

Yes. With GPRS, N-Gage users can take advantage of multiplayer gaming over the network. In addition, users have more convenient access to N-Gage Arena game services (e.g. new game levels, hints, competitions, etc.) without time-consuming connection set-ups. Also, you can have
a connection open in the background for such things as MMS-downloading.
 
Why is there an ?Offline? mode? The ?Offline? mode is to enable people who want to play games but turn off the phone functionality and escape from the outside world. Sometimes people want to turn off their phone.

How can I connect my N-Gage QD game deck to my PC/laptop?

The N-Gage QD can connect to a compatible PC or laptop via Bluetooth connection for calendar synchronization and application download.

What if there is no Bluetooth support in my PC/laptop?

There are compatible upgrade kits for Bluetooth connectivity for PCs and laptops.

Which networks will support the N-Gage QD?

The N-Gage QD game deck supports GSM 900/1800 networks in Europe, Africa and Asia, and 850/1900 networks in Americas.

Can the N-Gage QD game deck be personalized (ring tones, logos, wallpapers)?

Yes, there are many ways to do this. A variety of digital services are offered through Nokia digital services, such as ring tones and graphical wallpapers. The N-Gage also supports polyphonic MIDI ring tones.

Which image formats does the N-Gage QD game deck support?

It supports most commonly used variations of: BMP (Bitmap Picture), GIF 87a (Graphics Interchange Format), GIF 89a (animation support), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), MBM (EPOC bitmap), PNG (Portable Network Graphics) WBMP (Wireless Bitmap Picture).

Which sound formats does the N-Gage QD support?

MIDI files, WAV files, 16-bit PCM, a-law, u-law, GSM Full-Rate, ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation), AMR (Adaptive Multi Rate), AU files- a-law, u-law, WVE (EPOC native audio file format), a-law, Downloadable ring tones Check with Hannu af Ursin

Where can I get PC Suite software for the N-Gage QD game deck?

The PC Suite software is included in the sales package CD-ROM. Users can also download the PC Suite software from www.n-gage.com/support

What can I do with PC Suite?

Using the N-Gage QD game deck PC Suite software, you can share information between a PC and the phone, install software on the phone, configure phone settings, make backups of phone files, synchronize calendar, contacts, and tasks with Microsoft and Lotus applications, copy and move image files on the PC and phone, and copy contacts and calendar from another Nokia device.

Which operating systems are supported with the N-Gage QD game deck version of PC Suite?

The N-Gage PC Suite supports Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows XP.

Why is the device not Mac-compatible?

We feel that the Windows operating systems form the majority of the installed base.

What enhancements are available for the Nokia N-Gage?

There are several enhancements available, including:
? N-Gage game cards (MMC)
? X-press On Covers (Light Blue, Black)
? Carrying cases
? Mobile Charger (LCH-12)
? Travel Charger (ACP-12)
? Li Ion Battery (BL-6C)
? Dual Mono Headset (HS-7)
? Headset (HDC-5)
? Wireless Headset (HS-3W)
? Headrest Handsfree (BHF-2)
? Wireless Car Kit (CK-1W)
? Boom Headset (HDB-5)
? Memory Card (DT-64, DT-128)
? Loopset (LPS-3)
? TTY Adapter (HDA-9)

What message types does the N-Gage QD support?

SMS, MMS, email, and Smart Messages are supported.

How can I send an MMS message with the N-Gage QD game deck?

First compose a message, and then add an image and/or audio clip. For those familiar with SMS, creating an MMS should prove easy.

Does the N-Gage QD have a digital camera?

No, it does not have a camera as such. But when playing games, you can capture, store, and send a screenshot from a game with the screenshot application.

Can video clips be played/recorded/sent with the N-Gage QD? What about game related videos & screen shots?

You can watch video clips using the RealOnePlayer provided on the inbox CD-Rom, however you cannot record video clips. The N-Gage QD is MMS-capable and video clips can be sent to another compatible MMS-capable device. You can also take screen shots from a game and send them to your friends phone or email as MMS.

Does the N-Gage QD support Internet browsing?

No, the Nokia N-Gage does not have an in-built Internet browser. However, the N-Gage QD does contain xHTML/WAP browser for richer mobile Internet access. In addition, users can download Series 60 browser applications (e.g. Opera browser) and install it on their N-Gage QD game deck.
 
What happens if I have a mobile phone that doesn?t support MMS?

In Nokia's solution, you may receive a text message indicating that you have an MMS waiting with a web address and password for viewing, depending on your network operator/service provider.

How much does it cost to send an MMS message?

The price varies from country to country and from operator to operator.

What is the average size of an MMS message?

The average size of an MMS is around 10 kB with text and default size image (160x120), and 50 kB with text, image, and audio (up to 30 kB with VGA sized (640x480) image and text).

In terms of characters, how much text is it possible to include in an MMS message sent from the N-Gage QD game deck?

In practice, the only limitation is the maximum size, so, for example, the smaller the audio and image files, the larger number of characters.

What is the maximum size of a picture that can be included in an MMS message?

The limitation is the maximum size of an MMS (supports sending of MMS messages up to 100kB, if the network supports 100kB MMS?s).

How many MMS messages is it possible to store in the N-Gage QD game deck?

It depends on the amount of user memory available (e.g. the number of applications, images, and audio clips that you have downloaded). The N-Gage QD game deck has also an external memory (multimedia memory card or MMC) where you can store messages.

Post your comments in the N-Gage Discussion Forum

Source of Q&A: Nokia