Sprint, Verizon to Offer EA Mobile Games

Mobile phone providers Verizon Wireless and Sprint have announced they will offer mobile phone video games from Electronic Arts.

The number two and number three mobile phone providers, Verizon Wireless and Sprint, have announced they will soon offer their customers cell phone video games from Electronic Arts.

EA has announced that within a few weeks, Verizon plans to offer Get It Now customers versions of The Sims 2,Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, Madden NFL 06, NBA Live 06,FIFA 06, and Need for Speed Most Wanted, in addition to games from Pogo.com such as Solitaire,Tri-Peaks, and Poppit. Verizon customers with V CAST-enabled phones will be able to play 3D games, including Need for Speed Underground 2.

Sprint’s arrangement with EA seems less comprehensive out of the gate, focusing on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 and Pogo.com games Poppit,Tri-Peaks, and Turbo 21.

Pricing details for EA games on either Verizon or Sprint services have not yet been announced.

The announcement is seen as a significant endorsement for EA—which currently occupies a roughly five percent market share of the mobile gaming market—and a blow for market leader JAMDAT, which controls 15 to 20 percent of the market. EA says it plans to offer 15 to 20 games for the mobile phone market this year, and the market is expected to expand significantly as mobile phone providers look to wireless downloads (including games) as a significant new source of revenue.