Poker On the Go

It starts with a jingle - downloaded of course - anything from Jay-Z to the Rolling Stones to Mozart. You pick up…

"You're not going to believe what just happened to me, honey. So I'm about to pull into the perfect parking space, right in front of the mall; I've had my signal on for five minutes, when all of a sudden this Range Rover swerves…"

BEEP. You pull your cell phone away from your ear and peek at the screen. The faint droning of your significant other's gripping tale continues in the background while you're faced with a tough decision. Chan'sOrange87'88' has just put you to the test with a $125 all-in raise, on a paired board with a three flush. You flopped the nut straight.

"…and just because he has a nicer car than I do, doesn't mean… Honey? Honey?"

You make the call. Chan'sOrange87'88' has pocket aces. What a read. Not bad for someone standing in line at Walmart cradling two economy packs of Huggies, and a bag of grapefruits under your arm. You click the "deal me out" button.

"Hello? Hello?"

You put the phone back to your ear. "Sorry, honey," you say with the slightest hint of guilt in your voice, "I had poker-waiting."

This scenario is already a reality for some folks. For others, it is right around the corner. Wireless poker is about to explode, and the race is on for companies to grab a piece of this burgeoning market.

Whether you're looking to play for real money, play money, or just want some helpful hints from the pros while you're waiting to get that nagging headache checked out at the doctor's office; heaps of poker content will soon be available to you anywhere, anytime, on nearly any wireless device.

Poker and other casino games have been available to wireless customers since the technology could handle it. However, these games were generally played against computer opponents, and always for play money. The continued popularity of poker and advances in technology have prompted software developers to make available fully interactive multiplayer poker games.

Last April, pokerroom.com, a popular online cardroom and gambling site based in Sweden, launched a version of its poker and slot machine software for the Nokia 6660 and the Sony Ericsson 700I cellular phones. The software allows players to compete against other cell phone users and Internet players for real or play money. This option is still available, and other companies are starting to follow suit.

In the past two months, the business wire has been inundated with press releases from companies announcing plans to provide poker content to wireless customers.

In September, online gaming site SBG Global, owners of Internet cardroom PokerHost.com, entered into an agreement with SmartVideo, a provider of television and gaming content for cell phones, PDAs, wireless laptops, and other devices, to promote and provide access to its gaming platform via mobile technology.

Later in the month, Diamond I, a developer of wireless gaming products, with plans to start its own Internet poker site, announced its potential acquisition of TouchDev Limited, a British software developer with cell phone- and PDA-capable gaming software. Diamond I's eGaming platform would be available to only non-U.S. customers.

Diamond I's decision not to launch in the States seems to suggest that U.S. residents may have fewer mobile poker options, as cell phone gambling is sure to fall into the same legal limbo as its predecessor Internet gambling; especially considering, at this point, that the two are basically one and the same. So, while many foreign companies scramble to get in place to benefit from the potential financial windfall of gambling-on-the-go, some U.S.-based companies continue to develop entertainment-only content for a poker-crazed nation.

Card Player Media recently announced its alliance with Amp Mobile to be the exclusive provider of poker news, featured content, live tournament updates, streaming audio and video, games, and educational tools for the wireless company.

Most recently, Kayak Interactive announced the release of its "Poker Superstars" video game. "Poker Superstars" is a downloadable mobile video game version of the popular Fox Sports Net television show, available to Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers. The game can be played against computer versions of the show's poker pros, or against up to eight other players via mobile phone. Another popular cell phone poker game, Phil Hellmuth's Texas Hold'em, is also available to Get It Now customers.

Mobile poker: The final frontier? Considering how far poker has come already, it would be foolishly bold to make any hard-and-fast predictions about the end of the line for poker technology. For now, if you can't satisfy your poker jones with cardrooms, home games, Internet poker, and televised tournaments, add poker to your cell phone. Just promise not to play behind the wheel.

- Scott Huff

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