Mobile21

On September 2, 1999, Nintendo and Konami announced the establishment of Mobile21, a joint venture focused on developing software for Nintendo consoles with network connectivity. As part of this initiative, Nintendo planned to release an adapter the following year to connect the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance to cell phones, enabling online interactions. The company also had plans to develop software for the future GameCube console.{{multiref2|1={{Cite press release |title=Alliance and Joint Venture Company Establishment between Nintendo and Konami |date=September 2, 1999 |publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd.; Konami Co., Ltd. |url=http://www.konami.co.jp/press/1999/r.11.09.02e.html |access-date=March 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310185759/http://www.konami.co.jp/press/1999/r.11.09.02e.html |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}

|2={{Cite press release |title=任天堂とコナミの提携および合弁会社設立について |date=September 2, 1999 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/990902a.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322005527/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/990902a.html |archive-date=March 22, 2007 |trans-title=Nintendo and Konami Announce Partnership and Joint Venture Establishment |lang=ja}} }}{{Cite web |last=Tam |first=Augie |date=October 2000 |title=Fun 'n Games in the New Economy |url=https://www.japaninc.com/article.php?articleID=461 |access-date=March 6, 2025 |website=Japan Inc |language=en}}

Operations began on October 7, 1999, with an initial capital of {{Yen|200 million|link=yes}}, evenly split between Nintendo and Konami.{{Cite web |title=会社概要のペ |trans-title=Company Profile |url=http://www.mobile21.co.jp/company.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005055743fw_/http://www.mobile21.co.jp/company.html |archive-date=October 5, 2002 |access-date=March 6, 2025 |website=Mobile21 |language=ja}} However, each company retained only 15% of the stock, leaving 70% available to grant to employees in anticipation of an early public offering, part of an aggressive talent recruitment strategy.{{Cite magazine |date=April 2000 |title=モバイル２１株式会社 |trans-title=Mobile 21 Co., Ltd. |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0004/03/page02.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304144054/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0004/03/page02.html |archive-date=March 4, 2007 |access-date=March 5, 2025 |magazine=Nintendo Online Magazine |language=ja |issue=20}}

The Mobile Adapter GB and the Mobile System GB service were unveiled at the Nintendo Space World event in August 2000.{{Cite magazine |date=October 2000 |title=Spaceworld 2000: The Dawn of GameCube |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamers_Republic_Issue_29/page/n7 |magazine=Gamers Republic |pages=6–8 |issue=29}} At the time, Nintendo planned to release them in December,{{Cite press release |title=ゲームボーイによる携帯電話ネットワーク 「 モバイルシステムGB 」について |date=August 24, 2000 |url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/000824/c.html |language=ja |access-date=March 3, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001018092103/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/000824/c.html |archive-date=October 18, 2000 |trans-title=About the Game Boy mobile phone network "Mobile System GB" |website=Nintendo}} however, delays establishing the service pushed the launch back to January 27, 2001, for a MSRP of {{Yen|5,800}}.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=October 31, 2000 |title=No Mobile Adapter Until 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/31/no-mobile-adapter-until-2001 |access-date=March 3, 2025 |work=IGN}}{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2001 |title=Game Boy Mobile Adapter Delayed |url=https://archive.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/110100c.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106033030/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/110100c.html |archive-date=January 6, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2010 |website=RPGamer}}

The Mobile Adapter GB was not a commercial success, selling 80,000 units in its first year on the market,{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=March 30, 2001 |title=Low Numbers for Mobile Adapter GB |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/30/low-numbers-for-mobile-adapter-gb |access-date=March 3, 2025 |work=IGN |language=en}} leading the Mobile System GB service to be discontinued after less than two years on December 14, 2002.{{Cite news |last=Sledge |first=Ben |date=August 13, 2022 |title=Pokemon Crystal Had Long Distance Trading Years Before The Nintendo DS |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-crystal-mobile-adapter-gb/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |work=TheGamer}} The end of the Mobile Adapter GB also led to the end of Mobile21.

Mobile21 produced eleven games during its time in existence, six of which used the Mobile Adapter GB.{{Cite web |title=タイトル |trans-title=Titles |url=http://www.mobile21.co.jp/lineup.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021011044355fw_/http://www.mobile21.co.jp/lineup.html |archive-date=October 11, 2002 |access-date=March 6, 2025 |website=Mobile21}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20020927174654/http://www.mobile21.co.jp/ Official website] (Archived, in Japanese)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060518141812/http://www.geocities.jp/rikkyjp/ope/mobile.html Mobile21 history page] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Nintendo developers}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Video game companies established in 1999

Category:Defunct video game companies of Japan

Category:Video game development companies

Category:1999 establishments in Japan

Category:Nintendo divisions and subsidiaries

Category:Konami