The security system built into Nokia's N-Gage has been cracked, allowing other Symbian-based mobile handsets to play games designed for the Finnish handheld console-cum-phone.

So claims gaming web site Spong, without explaining how the crack works.

But work it does. Siemens phone fan-site ClubSiemens has a series of pictures of the handset running the N-Gage title SonicN.

"The Ngage games runs very well on the SX1," the site reports. "[You] just need to transfer the game file to the MMC and use a specific application to install the game. There is no lag at all and the sound is nice, especially when using the stereo headset. Graphics are perfect, just have to remember to press the hash key to get the game in fullscreen."

The "specific application" referred to above essentially allows gamecard content to be copied to the handset's internal memory, and then back again to a clean memory card.

While some sites claim this is a good idea, and one that Nokia should support, we can't say we can see the phone giant agreeing with them. Quite apart from eliminating one of the reasons why someone might choose to buy an N-Gage - exclusive content - it opens the way for game piracy.

We asked Nokia for comment, but the company had not returned our calls by posting time. ®

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