GLOBAL – The Nokia Lumia 800 has gaming built into its DNA, thanks to input from Xbox developers into the whole ecosystem of the handset.

When Microsoft developed the Windows Phone 7 software system they drew on all of the strengths and skills of software teams across their brands.

They all worked together to produce this fresh-feeling phone experience.

A key part of the input came from the Xbox LIVE team, who built the online service for Xbox 360, which has more than 20 million active members globally.

It allows teams of gamers to join up and play each other all over the world, watch movies, TV shows and sports. It’s this kind of expertise that helps to make the Windows Phone software so user friendly and well connected.

And it is set to grow, connecting more and more people to the entertainment they want, when they want it and on the device of their choice.

So when you invest in a Nokia Lumia 800 you become part of this mobile media revolution. And you can be confident that more and more services and opportunities will become open to you.

This service is unique to the Windows Phone range.

But you can already download and play an impressive choice of games on the The Nokia Lumia 800 from Angry Birds to Assassin’s Creed.

Another unique feature is that you can try before you buy, potentially saving you a lot of cash on games that you’ll never play. With the Nokia Lumia 800, you only buy what you really want, via the Marketplace or Zune.

Anyone who has an Xbox will want to get their hands on a Lumia 800 to find their friends online, challenge them to a game and track achievements.

You can even invite other players to join in multiplayer games on their phone or on the web. Simply tap the option for multiplayer and follow on-screen prompts to invite friends from your phone’s contact list or enter an email address.

An email invitation is sent to your friends. The email invitation includes directions on how to join your game over the phone or on the web.

But you don’t have to have a console to enjoy the fun, simply sign in with a free Windows Live or Hotmail account and you can create an avatar and get started.

You’re always in the game with the only type of phone with Xbox LIVE built in.

The Nokia Lumia 800 comes with the latest Windows Phone 7.5, or Mango software and there’s a big list of games optimized for it, including Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, Harbor Master, Jet Car Stunts, Pac-man Original and Monopoly. But checkout the Marketplace on your phone for a full list.

In Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles HD, you play stealthy assassin Altair who must find a holy relic during the Third Crusade.

So you travel across the Holy Land, encountering Crusaders, Saracens, and Templars, to find clues from other assassins and spies. Using the phone’s on-screen controls you jump, or almost fly, across rooftops or plunge into perilous tunnels to achieve your quest to find the Sacred Chalice.

Players have the option of using a 360-degree virtual control stick or 8-direction D-pad on the bottom left of the screen to control Altair.

Playing time can last between five to eight hours, which makes the game great value. It’s great for fans of this massive console hit, because it allows them a bite-sized version of the fun anywhere they go.

And it’s a good introduction to the game for newcomers, at a fraction of the full-sized game. And of course, you get to try before you buy on the Windows phone.