The new iPhone 3.0 software could help mobile game micro-transactions become as popular in the West as they are in South Korea, says Hoyun Shin, VP of the International Development division at Com2uS.

"In countries like Korea and Japan, games with in-app purchasing have satisfied everyone involved," he tells PocketGamer.biz.

"Extended contents and the add-fun satisfied game users, and lucrative sales made content developers and service providers happy! But implementing micro-transactions in wireless games both for iPhone and iPod touch and traditional mobile phones have been very difficult in western markets."

Com2uS has been releasing micro-transaction enabled mobile games in Korea since 2006, so the publisher will be looking to bring its knowledge in this area to bear on the App Store.

"This store kit API in the 3.0 software should be a definite turning point for global wireless content market," says Shin. "Players will see how in-app purchasing could extend in-game depth with Com2uS games, starting with Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D."

Shin also says P2P Bluetooth connectivity will be a big plus for iPhone games developers, spurring a new burst of local multiplayer games this summer.

Meanwhile, he also cites the new ability to access the iPhone's music library as potentially important. "This will become a synergy effect for both iTunes and the App Store," he says.

"Gamers will definitely utilise what they already have and also purchase their immaculate choice of music for their games. Application developers will be more eager to produce creative music games for the devices. After all that’s where the whole thing started: music plus phone..."