Job postings aren't always the most reliable indicator as to a company's intentions.

Apple is repeatedly subject to speculation regarding a widescale move into games development thanks to such detective work, even though such a shift has never materialised.

However, a vacancy posted by online retailer Amazon makes specific reference to a desire to move into the mobile social scene, with innovation within the genre key to its strategy.

Social shopping

"Amazon is building a new team focused on social games innovation," the ad reads.

"This group offers a creative, fast paced, entrepreneurial work environment where you will be working on a cutting edge initiative within Amazon."

The job itself is for an "experienced game designer to envision, design and create great new social games for Facebook and smartphones."

While that suggests Amazon is considering launching social games on multiple platforms, selling its wares on Amazon's Appstore for Android would be something of a challenge as things stand, given the store doesn't yet support in-app purchases.

[source: Inside Social Games]