The ascendance of mobile phones as a real force in gaming has been predicted for years, but for just as long the technical limitations of the devices have held back the medium. Not for much longer, potentially, with Ideaworks 3D's technical bigwig telling MobileIndustry.biz that next-generation mobiles could match the the handheld.

Tim Closs went on to explain that the best current mobile platforms, demonstrated using games with a hardware-sofware 'association' could probably match the DS, whilst the next lot out the door should be able to rival the PSP. The technical officer also pointed to the growing importance of mobile games, exemplified by EA's purchase of mobile developer Jamdat. "It's led to a closer collaboration between us and major publishers who have woken up and thought, blimey, if are doing this we really need to be looking closely at mobile as well," he explained.

Closs concluded by stating that the key to growing the business relied heavily upon the operators and the way in which games are delivered to customers, this - he believes - is now the largest hurdle to be overcome. More as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge