Watch out, Sony PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS. A new portable game console that could rival the market heavyweights is set to hit the shelves here next year.

This week, South Korean firm Posdata showed off what would be the first handheld console in Singapore that has a built-in wireless broadband connection.

The Flyvo G100 comes with familiar directional buttons like those found on the Nintendo DS.

But it also hooks up to the Internet using WiMax, a wireless technology characterised as a long-range version of Wi-Fi. This means users can play games online with friends wherever they go, and not just at cafes and other hot spots providing Wi-Fi.

Local Internet service provider QMax Communications, which is now rolling out a WiMax network here, will sell the game device, along with its wireless broadband service.

QMax director Alex Tan said the company plans to bring the G100 here next year, although the price has not been set.

The device runs on Microsoft's Windows CE software, sports a 4-inch screen and has 4GB of space to store games and other files.

Its main challenge, acknowledged Mr Tan, is to come up with hit games. Sony and Nintendo have both built up libraries of popular titles over the years, while Posdata will be starting from scratch.

ALFRED SIEW

This article was first published in The Straits Times on June 20, 2008.