Hmmm ... not sure what to think of this. Yes, it's indicative of the expansion of gaming in non-gaming circles, in japan and elsewhere, but no, it's NOT what I've been talking about recently. In any case:

Reports from Japan are suggesting that Bandai is negotiating with a mobile phone company to launch a handheld device, featuring games. According to Nikkei, Bandai is close to an agreement with network company Willcom. The two companies are planning the launch of a handheld device aimed at children (i.e. sub-16, the current GBA market?), which would play games and serve as a phone. The new service will be called Kids Keitai (Kids Mobile) and will launch later this year. It's not known what nature of games is being planned.

Bandai has proven to be capable of doing damage, tamagochi was an example of that (though it DID inspire nintendo to further promote the gameboy by using pokemon). If Bandai succeeds in harming the GBA market, which is still Nintendo's main money maker, Nintendo will have to respond firmly and swiftly.

Nintendo, your turn now ...