iFone partners with Terraplay for connected gaming

Mobile content provider iFone has announced a new partnership with Swedish middleware specialists Terraplay, bringing a range of multiplayer and connected games to mobiles.

The company recently announced its plans to expand its operations and diversify its content within the global mobile markets, signing a new partnership with SEGA to bring mobile content to the UK's i-mode service through O2. This new licensing agreement will enable the firm to provide a new range of connected games across multiple mobile networks, including its current best sellers Monopoly, Battleship and Cluedo.

Enda Carey, Marketing Director, iFone said "We are delighted to choose the Terraplay system as it allows us to give our customers a richer gaming experience through it's connected features and also enhances our product offering to network operators globally."

Carey recently stated that the company was determined to provide connected gaming on a global basis, highlighting the community aspects of connected gaming as a vital tool in the growth and development of the mobile market. The i-mode deal with SEGA will produce a number of connected games, and this new agreement with Terraplay further emphasises the company's investment in more complex, connected 3D mobile gaming.

Sven Holling, CEO of Terraplay commented: "This is a very exciting partnership. Combining iFone's wide distribution and strong brand portfolio with Terraplay's global gaming network gives potential for connected gaming to reach the mass market of mobile gamers in an unprecedented way."

Terraplay's middleware platform enables publishers and developers to include a comprehensive lobby and community server for real-time and turn based play in both single and multiplayer games, across multiple mobile networks. The technology also ensures the appropriate tools are available for viral marketing, asset packs for the distribution of additional skins, levels and modes, and a cross-operator billing gateway for advanced in-game charging.

Customised game rooms, tournament and competition set up and league tables are also easily achievable with Terraplay's Move platform, which has been licensed by a selection of top-tier mobile publishers and developers to date. In addition to tools for Windows and PlayStation 2, Terra Move has been fully adopted for the development and distribution of connected gaming on multiple mobile devices, including J2ME, Brew, Symbian, mophun and Microsoft Mobile.