Wireless Knowledge, Inc., a Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) and QUALCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq:QCOM) company, today announced that it is joining forces with Versaly Games Inc., a wireless infrastructure provider of interactive games and entertainment software, to create next-generation mobile gaming applications.
Marketed by Versaly, the new infrastructure software will target wireless carriers -- who in turn will offer it as a value-added service to subscribers -- to create the first worldwide mobile gaming community.
Versaly's software and Wireless Knowledge's mobile technology will be integrated by Isumbra Inc., a technology consulting firm that is providing the infrastructure and back-end services for Versaly's gaming solution. A pilot version of the service will be available for evaluation to potential customers and partners -- including game developers and wireless carriers -- in May 2001.
Versaly's game service will operate on Microsoft's smartphone platform (code-named "Stinger"), which combines the Microsoft Pocket PC operating system with comprehensive cell-phone capabilities. Compared with handheld gaming devices such as the Nintendo Game Boy, the Stinger phone has a larger screen, faster CPU, better Internet connectivity and a fully functional graphical Web browser.
Targeted for next-generation (2.5 and 3G) wireless networks, the Versaly software will give users always-on Internet access, enabling real-time interaction with other players using the system. The always-on access eliminates the need for data calls as well as per-minute charges.
In addition, the broadband capabilities of 2.5 and 3G networks remove the data bottlenecks associated with today's narrowband wireless networks, and enable the introduction of a new class of highly interactive applications for wireless phones.
"Our industry-leading game service will give consumers the excitement of being able to play full-featured interactive color games anywhere, and at any time," said Matthew Feldman, president and CEO of Versaly Games.
"Wireless Knowledge's expertise in mobile technologies and Microsoft-based platforms, coupled with Isumbra's extensive integration capabilities, are instrumental to the development of our game service. We intend to build significant momentum around our offering with carriers, content providers and software partners in the coming months."
Key features of the Versaly software will include advanced opponent matching and scheduling technology, secure wireless downloading of new games on mobile phones, ability to compete with players locally or globally, automatic high score submission and skill level recalculation, worldwide gaming contests and prizes, and game reviews.
The Versaly service will come pre-installed on mobile phones, and offer consumers easy-to-use and consistent game controls. Its built-in security will automatically and securely transfer data, including games, scores and digital pictures, to ensure user privacy.
The Versaly service will offer both single- and multi-player games. In addition, the Versaly infrastructure will include entertainment software enabling users to view and download digital pictures, video and music.
Industry analysts forecast explosive growth for the wireless gaming market in the next four years. According to Datamonitor, wireless gaming will grow to a $6 billion market in Europe and the United States by 2005.
"Wireless Knowledge, Versaly and Isumbra make an ideal team for pursuing the high-growth wireless gaming business," said Dave Whalen, vice president, global sales and services for Wireless Knowledge. "As our first major engagement in the gaming industry, this is a key strategic win for our professional services group, and a testimony to the breadth of our wireless expertise."
"Carriers' plans to roll out third-generation services, combining robust voice and data capabilities, pave the way for leading developers to create richer content for consumers' handsets," said Brad Chalker, president of Isumbra.
"Not only will these networks provide greater bandwidth to support more robust game applications, but will also provide the always-on access required to enable a true, multi-player gaming environment. We believe that our collective efforts put us at the sweet spot of a market that is poised for extremely high growth in the next several years."
The software will be available from Versaly and its partners. Subscribers to the service will be able to access the infrastructure, its games and content from the Stinger smartphone and Internet-connected PCs, although games will only run on the smartphone.
Future games will take advantage of the inherent nature of the 3G wireless telecommunications network by incorporating a player's physical location into games.
While many companies are developing applications on existing wireless application protocol (WAP) and text-based phones, Versaly, Wireless Knowledge and Isumbra are gearing up for next-generation phones with color graphical screens and high-speed, always-on network connections.
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