Operators are keen to recoup the money paid for 3G licences

Increased revenues from entertainment and gaming services are seen as essential to recouping huge investments in 3G (3rd generation) mobile phone licences.

Mobile Soccer by Kuju and Golf by Rage Software will function on the Epoc mobile operating system created by Symbian, a consortium of mobile technology manufacturers including Psion, Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola.

Nokia strongly believes that mobility will bring unprecedented value to online entertainment

Graham Stafford, Nokia

NTT DoCoMo has had a resounding success in Japan with its I-Mode wireless internet services, paving the way for networks and manufacturers in other countries to emulate their success.

Mobility

Nokia Mobile Phones senior manager Graham Stafford said: "Nokia strongly believes that mobility will bring unprecedented value to online entertainment. Mobility will increase the freedom to play irrespective of time and place and provide mass market gamers with new devices to play on."

"This presents game developers and publishers with attractive business opportunities."

Motorolas Timeport WAP e-commerce phone

Members of a Nokia users' club will be able to download these games from the website onto the Nokia 9210 Communicator, a colour display handheld phone with a built in keyboard. The games will be available from the second half of 2001.

The Communicator, the first ever mobile phone to support the Java computer language as well as the Symbian Epoc operating system, will also be available in the second half of 2001.

Nokia is also working with Supedo to develop games like Truth or Bluff, Concentration and Boxes for Nokia's Wap phones.

Developers Iomo, Kuju and Morpheme will also be working on Wap games with Nokia.

Competition

Motorola, the world's second-largest mobile phone maker, has also begun providing mobile games. Recently it launched a mobile version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

The handheld gaming market is extremely competitive.

Nintendo recently launched its new handheld, the Game Boy Advance with a wide range of revamped Super Nintendo titles and several new titles including Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and GT Advance.