A new report which reached us late yesterday from international news agency Reuters paints an altogether more optimistic picture of the Nokia launch than earlier news suggested. Amid speculation of meagre and mediocre reviews, Reuters are quoting Ilkka Raiskinen, senior vice president of entertainment and media at Nokia as stating "we've sold around 400,000 N-Gage in the first two weeks".

This figure apparently refers to the number sold to retailers since the October 7th debut, and Raiskinen added that sales in stores were "very good in and Asia Pacific", with many follow-up orders underway.

The firm aims to have sold a mighty 6-9 million units by the end of 2004; and loosen the grip the 20 million selling GBA has on the handheld market.

"For a global number it's not a huge quantity. Their market is going to be best in regions like Europe and Asia where sales to consumers is strong. In the United States, Nokia will still need to address such as the high price," commented financial analyst Edward Williams at Harris Nesbitt Gerard in New York.

Thanks Yahoo.

By Luke Guttridge