T-Mobile embeds 2006 FIFA World Cup into Nokia handsets
Deal kicks off start of big push with Electronic Arts
It's not our favourite mobile football game, but we can't deny that getting 2006 FIFA World Cup free with your phone is better than a kick in the chops from Sol Campbell.
And that's exactly what new T-Mobile subscribers are being offered in the UK and selected other European countries (the game, that is, not the face full of foot).
T-Mobile's special editions of the Nokia 6280, the 6131 and the N70 handsets will also come with the Nokia football theme, icons and wallpapers, access to World Cup highlights, pre-packaged 2006 FIFA World Cup stickers and – wait for it – the official World Cup anthem, Celebrate the Day, by Herbert Grönemeyer.
"These handsets with embedded premium World Cup content are only available to T-Mobile customers and bring all the excitement and action of the World Cup straight to your phone," chanted Matthias Immel of T-Mobile International.
The deal marks the start of a strategic relationship between T-Mobile and EA that will see the companies bring further EA games to T-Mobile users in various European countries, including the UK, Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia.