OnLive will support cell phones

by: Nathan - posted: 11/14/2009 9:10:00 PM

OnLive is turning heads again with a newly announced feature. Steve Pearlman, Founder and CEO of OnLive, wrote on his blog that a much asked question finally had an answer. The OnLive software will be accessible from mobile devices such as smart phones and was proven to work with Apple's iPhone. Mr. Pearlman revealed that the full OnLive survice could run on such a device, but because of the limited input capability (read no keyboard, mouse, or controller) the functions would most likely be limited to the less interactive aspects of the service; live streaming gameplay from other users, "Brag Clips", access to gamer profiles, etc. No date is yet set for the availability of this functionality nor have there been any confirmed cell phones or service carriers that will support OnLive.

I see this news a validation and confirmation that my presumptions about the next generation of gaming consoles, revealed here at GN and on my personal blog, are indeed coming closer to reality. Still what relationships OnLive can develop with cell phone manufacturers and service providers may prove that this function develops and grows or is seen only as a handy app. The possibility that OnLive can run on an iPhone will open the doors to cell phones and mobile devices designed with gaming in mind, which may lead to the future of gaming I have envisioned.

Today, I FINALLY get to answer a question that so many people have been asking about: Yes, OnLive works on cell phones, too.

Today, at a Wedbush financial conference in New York I showed OnLive running simultaneously on 2 iPhones, a TV, and a computer. What is really cool is that all 4 devices had access to the full OnLive Game Service, so they could play the same games, spectate on each other’s (and Beta users’) game play, watch Brag Clips, check out Gamer Profiles, etc.

While we only showed a tech demo today, it was great to give people in the audience a chance to try out OnLive on an iPhone. The large tiles that make up the OnLive user interface work perfectly on the iPhone touch screen, allowing easy access to all of the features of the OnLive game service.

That said, it’s important to understand that a cell phone is a very different beast than TV, PC or Mac. And while we’re thrilled about eventually bringing many new games to cell phone platforms, currently, games on OnLive are tuned for TVs and computers. So initially, it’s the Community and Social elements of OnLive that we’re most excited about on mobile devices. It’s amazingly cool whipping out your phone, checking out what your OnLive friends are up to, and then spectating their live game play: Unscripted live user-generated content, available anywhere.

I’m afraid we are not announcing a date for availability of OnLive on particular cell phones just yet. We have further development to do, and we need approvals from some cell phone makers before we can release OnLive to the public. So, for now, OnLive on a cell phone is only a technology demo. But, for those of you who have been asking about OnLive on cell phones, the answer is yes, it is coming. And, it is REALLY cool.

—Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder & CEO