Panasonic Tests Handheld Game Unit for U.S. Market

Panasonic Corp. (PC) is testing a handheld video-game unit in the U.S.

The company's U.S. unit invited users to test out its new player, code-named "Jungle", Bloomberg News reported.

The company will face stiff competition in the gaming market. Besides major market players like Sony Corp (SNE) and Nintendo (NTDOY), Panasonic will be taking on Apple Inc's (AAPL) iPhone and iPad, which have become popular with gamers.

"We know other companies out there have traditional hand- held gaming covered," Panasonic said in the e-mail. "We're doing something very different."

The Jungle device will be clamshell with a touchpad and keyboard, TechCrunch reported last month. The device will specialize in online gaming, TechCrunch said.