With the high-speed, wireless Internet landscape slowly emerging, many believe that delivering a rich gaming and entertainment experience is key to the success of these next-generation networks.

With this in mind Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) have established the Mobile Games Interoperability Forum, which will help define a mobile games interoperability specification for network-based servers.

• To define application programming interfaces, which will allow game developers to produce and deploy mobile games over wireless networks in a client/server model

• To specify a global standard and develop certification procedures to encourage wide adoption of the standard

• To work with and provide recommendations to the appropriate standards bodies and forum to ensure an open environment for developing mobile games

• To work closely with developing companies to build Software Development Kits and other necessary tools for game developers

The four founding members are encouraging all stakeholders in the mobile games community from games publishers to games service providers to device and infrastructure vendors to become part of the Forum.

Commenting on Siemens IC Mobile's objectives, Thorsten Heins, president of Solutions for Siemens IC Mobile, said the company aims to facilitate the "multi-player gaming experience —anytime, anywhere and across multiple devices and platforms." He added, "Mobile gaming is not only about ‘just playing’ but encompasses a rich entertainment experience that includes various application segments such as messaging and location-base services," which when combined, will encourage user loyalty and help boost operator revenues.

For more information: http://press.nokia.com/PR/200107/826465_5.html