We've known for some time that most of the Switch's online services would come through their smartphone app, putting them in stark contrast to other consoles.  We've had pieces of information released to us over the last few months, but now we know more as Nintendo has released a FAQ and some users have gotten their hands on it.

The first, and so far only, game to support it is Splatoon 2, which is due out next week (and you can read our review here).  The app itself allows you to keep track of your Splatoon 2 gaming habits; informing you of your favourite weapons, what maps are coming up and other features.

As promised, the app is a hub for online communications when it comes to the Nintendo Switch, although what can be communicated, and under what circumstances, remains pretty limited during this apparently "simple" version of the app.

You cannot send messages to other users unless you are in an Online Lounge for a game (thus, for Splatoon 2 so far), meaning setting up games in advance is pretty much impossible.  You set up a room in the Online Lounge for you and your friends and then push a notification to your phone, which then lets you invite them.

Similarly, voice chat can only be used once you've entered the Online Lounge.  Voice chat cannot be run in the background and your screen must be on, meaning you can't switch to another app and your battery is going to take a hit.

The app will officially launch alongside Splatoon 2 next week and some improvements may come at that point, but it seems unlikely there will be any fundamental changes given the FAQ.  Of course more updates will come in the future, although Nintendo's full online service has now been pushed back to some time in 2018 so we might have to wait a while.