Nokia and Rage Software plc, a computer games publisher and developer, today announced their cooperation to develop mobile gaming content for WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) enabled phones. Under the terms of the agreement, Nokia will provide the mobile gaming community with Rage's software within the context of the Nokia Mobile Entertainment Service.
Nokia offers operators and service providers a mobile game portfolio developed by third parties via the Nokia Mobile Entertainment Service. This is a Nokia hosted and facilitated solution encompassing a continuously growing selection of games, a game developer program, facilitation, server hosting, and a platform for running game applications.
"WAP is rapidly gaining momentum, and Nokia believes that it will bring an added dimension to the gaming experience. It has become a widely adopted standard for mobile Internet services and is currently an ideal vehicle with which to boost a wide selection of new mobile game services. Mobility will bring unprecedented value to on-line entertainment and represents a huge business potential for game publishers," said Graham Stafford, Senior Manager, Business Development, Nokia.
“We are delighted to have entered into this relationship with Nokia. We believe that they have made tremendous progress in the wireless entertainment arena already and feel that our relationship will provide us both with an excellent framework in which to further explore the opportunities in wireless based, interactive gaming entertainment,” said Paul Finnegan, Managing Director, Rage.
In the past year, Nokia's entertainment offering has grown to include a large portfolio of games from top companies, such as Rage, Eidos, IO Productions, Kuju Entertainment, and Quiz Supplies. This portfolio offers gamers a good choice of mobile entertainment, and Nokia's intention is to expand this selection in the future.
Rage, Eidos, IO Productions, Kuju Entertainment, and Quiz Supplies are all members of Forum Nokia, which is an on-line community for third party developers creating mobile applications. Registered members can find a wide range of development tools and supporting documents as well as meet other developers on-line. The Forum Nokia site (www.forum.nokia.com) was established in 1995 and currently has over 400,000 members.'
About Nokia:
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
About Rage:
Rage Software plc, based in Liverpool, UK and established in 1992, is a developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company has nine UK-based games development studios and has produced a number of hit titles including Striker, Incoming, Jonah Lomu Rugby and Expendable. Rage has relationships with Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Compaq, Dell, Sony, Nintendo and Orange and is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE:RGE.L).
Further information:
Nokia Mobile Phones, Communications, Tel. +358 7180 08000
www.nokia.com
Rage Software plc, Tel. 0151 237 2200
Paul Finnegan, Managing Director
John Schorah, Deputy Managing Director
Glen O’Connell, Head of Communications
www.rage.com