The trend of mobile operators outsourcing their mobile Java games portals to third parties looks set to continue, with Orange UK apparently preparing to abandon its own internally developed games portal in favour of a third party solution.

The likely beneficiary according to a number of PG.Biz's sources is aggregator Player X, with a variation of its 100% mobile platform that already powers the O2 UK mobile games portal.

An official announcement expected later today should fill in the details about the branding of the service and the extent of the features to be integrated (the 100% mobile portal on O2 offers try-before-you-buy demos, pay-per-play, rentals and subscription options).

Following the departure of the likes of End2End and Materna, the deal would mean the consolidation of the UK's five operator game portals into the hands of three companies, with Arvato covering off T-Mobile and Vodafone, Player X servicing O2 and Orange and Buongiorno looking after Three.