Believe it or not, there was a time when cellular phones were only used for phone calls. Technology later introduced the phone-carrying public to things like voice mail, wireless internet, text messaging, and various games. Now, a popular online RPG is making its way to Japanese cell phones.

A mobile media company by the name of Dwango has agreed to run a mobile version of Ultima Online for Electronic Arts. Despite interface changes, the game's concept remains the same: players journey through the world of Britannia, and can have their own pets, houses, and shops.

The game's program will use a mixture of web page interfaces and Java applications. Creating characters and shopping in towns will be done on a web page interface, while traveling and fighting will be done in a Java application. This mobile Ultima will also be frequently updated.

Ultima Online for mobile phones will be released this summer in Japan, and comes with a monthly membership fee of 300 yen (about $2.50). Nothing was said of North American or European releases.