Mobile network provider O2 is to subsidise Nokia's N-Gage down to £99.99 as a limited offer, which will see users signing up to a monthly tariff of between £20 and £50.

The offer is available only to those who sign up to O2's Pay Monthly Online Tariff before midday on October 6, the day before the N-Gage launches worldwide, and it's not clear if the company plans to continue any subsidies for the device in the long term.

The tariff comes in a variety of flavours offering different bundles of text and media messages, and prices start at around £20 a month. The minimum subscription period is one year.

No other operators have announced subsidies for the phone as yet, and with only a couple of weeks to go before the launch, O2's half-hearted and highly limited offer does not bode well for the chances of the deck being widely subsidised, in the UK at least.

Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse, however, has announced its prices for the standalone unit - which will set you back £229.99 including a copy of Pandemonium, £254.99 including both Pandemonium and Tomb Raider, and £274.99 including both of the above along with Sonic N.

© gamesindustry.biz