Is the Gizmondo or Isn’t It?

Tiger Telematics, the company behind the Gizmondo handheld gaming device, issues a press release delaying its American launch until at least October.

It looks like those wanting the Gizmondo handheld gaming device in North America will have to wait a little while longer. Tiger Telematics, the company which has been pushing the product worldwide through their Gizmondo Europe subsidiary, said today the original August 11 street date had been pushed to the fourth quarter.

Tiger Telematics said they were doing this because of production delays in an associated, unnamed game title as well as a satellite package which would add GPS functionality. Other reasons given also included a larger launch game portfolio, higher levels of available Gizmondo inventory and a mid-August opening of a Gizmondo Europe office in Los Angeles, California.

Gizmondo added they would not be able to project the number of units that would sell. Mike Carrender, CEO, Tiger Telematics, said in a recent interview however that “we have requested and are looking for 500,000 units from the Gizmondo manufacturer to be available during the USA introduction in the fourth quarter. Gizmondo sales executives have had discussions with numerous USA retailers that have indicated plans to stock the product, and we will be press releasing shortly the specific details of the North American launch along with an expansion of our retailing plans, which includes many more Gizmondo owned retail sites.”