Games Portal will be preloaded on millions of Verizon Android devices beginning in the second quarter of 2013. PlayPhone has announced a major new tier-one carrier partnership with Verizon for its mobile social gaming platform. Verizon did not disclose which device(s) would be first to come with Games Portal pre-installed. In 2010, Verizon launches their own V Cast Apps store, which closed about a year later.
Games Portal continues Playphone’s cross platform social game service with the latest free and premium games. Games Portal also includes various activities including achievements, friend invites, leaderboards, real-time updates, and recommendations. Friends lists can be automatically populated by connecting with social media. The service blends social media to connect with friends and their gaming activities while issuing special challenges. Games Portal also offers direct billing to Verizon for game purchases.
Developers can sign up online and use the PlayPhone SDK to get their games on Games Portal as they take on Google’s Google Play store and OpenFeint’s GameFeed. Playphone’s Games Front will also collaborate with developers on game placement, marketing, and other activities to strengthen and sustain game release so they do not quickly disappear. This exclusive Games Portal service offers a concentrated set where players can explore and take the time to experience each game complete with the social media options.
“The initial launch game list includes 200 to 250 with constant updates”, says Scott Prather, senior director of business development for PlayPhone. This specially selected Games Portal mobile game list will be released at a later date, but Prather did mention games would come from Electronic Arts and several independent developers.
Existing PlayPhone services deliver mobile social gaming via smartphones and tablets through its cross-platform PlayPhone Social Gaming Network is a free-to-play app that runs on the Apple iOS, Android, and HTML5 platforms in more than 25 countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. PlayPhone is based in San Francisco, California.