Digital Chocolate has understood the concept of social activity in its games for quite a long time, and according to Cabana Mobile (via Mobile-Ent.biz) Trip Hawkins's studio is readying itself to launch a new mobile gaming revolution - virtual items.

The industry veteran is preparing to announce Digital Chocolate's new concept during his A New Approach To Virtual Goods keynote speech at next week's Engage expo in San Jose.

This new concept will give 'platform power' to virtual goods, apparently, making in-game items available across different platforms, networks and devices. For example, buying an outfit for an avatar that then appears on mobile games, Facebook, consoles, online and anywhere else DChoc has a presence.

The mobile industry is all a-buzz over micro-transactions (with Trip Hawkins leading the march), hoping this form of in-game sales will be the next big revenue stream across the board - from mobile and iPhone to social networks.

We'll let you know what Trip has to say on the matter after the expo next week.