Gametrac mobile console to ship for under £60

On the basis of its web site, Gametrac Europe's kids-oriented handheld Windows CE .NET-based gaming console appears as much like vapourware as does Infinium Labs' still unlaunched Phantom. A few hi-res Wavefront or Maya renders and a noisy Flash presentation do not make a real product.

However, Gametrac's parent, Tiger Telematics, does at least have some impressive partners associated with the development of the console, making its debut during Q2 2004 seem more likely to happen.

Gametrac Europe (GE) is working with Cambridge, UK-based electronics design consultancy and supplier Plextek, which names Psion, Sony, TDK, Marconi, Racall and a number of other communications, defence, industrial, scientific and medical industry heavyweights on its client list.

According to Plextek, it has been contracted to ship 25,000 Gametracs to GE during Q2 2004. That contract is described as a "multi-million pound" deal. A key aspect of Gametrac is GPS, the idea being that parents will be able to keep track of Little Johnny and Jilly whenever they're out of sight - or at least locate the handheld. Plextek says the GPS module that will be built into Gametrac "can even provide in-building coverage".

The unit will also incorporate Bluetooth, for mobile-to-mobile gaming, and there'll be a built-in camera too. Gametrac's removable storage medium is the SD/MMC card. The device will sport a 4.2 x 3.5cm, 16-bit colour, 320 x 200 LCD.

So much for the hardware. Plextek came on board last October. In November, GE said it is working with Canada's Intrinsyc Software to build the Gametec environment on top of WinCE, including the GSM/GPRS telephony stack. GE says Gametrac will offer mobile data communications, such as texting, multimedia messaging, WAP, email, and over-the-air game, music and ringtone downloads, but not voice, it seems. The device will feature a tri-band radio. It will support GSM Class 4 and GPRS Class 12 connections.

The handheld will also play MP3 music files and MPEG 4 video data. Polyphonic ringtones come courtesy of a Yamaha sound system.

News source: The Register