Lenovo launches i909 handset with plug-in Game King pad
No more struggling with controls for your favourite games... if you're Chinese
The idea of plugging a gamepad into a phone isn't a new one: Sony Ericsson tried it a few years ago, but it didn't catch on.
The theory is sound – mobile keypads aren't ideal for gaming – but the reality is that once you have to carry round a separate accessory to play games, you might as well get a DS.
Still, Chinese handset manufacturer Lenovo doesn't agree, judging by its new i909 phone, which is going on sale in China this side of Christmas.
The phone has a 2.4-inch QVGA-resolution screen, a two-megapixel camera, music and video capabilities, and weighs 113 grams. The Game King pad plugs into the side for landscape gaming, and offers a regular D-pad and four buttons, along with Select and Start keys.
Will the i909 come west? Don't hold your breath.