It seems everyone loves iPhone. Even the middleware companies whose technology powers some of console and PC gaming's big brands are eyeing up the opportunities.

One such is GameSpy, which as well as providing the multiplayer, matchmaking and communication features for hundreds of PC and consoles games, including GTA IV, Crysis and Unreal Tournament III, is also Nintendo's partner when it comes to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

But despite all that, its director of technology, Todd Northcutt, was certainly geed up about iPhone when we spoke to him on Friday.

"We've not traditionally been in the mobile space but we are very excited about iPhone," he said. "We've always supported gaming on the Mac even though the audience was small, so the combination of the iPhone's memory, processor and screen, plus the potential of Apps Store, is great."

In particular, he sees iPhone as offering the traditional game publishers an obvious way of breaking the in-game out-of-game barrier – bridging the console-mobile divide, if you will.

"I absolutely think publishers will release iPhone versions of their games so you can do some useful activities while you're on the subway," he explains. "You won't be playing the exact same game on the iPhone. For MMOGs for example, it may be the crafting element or gathering lumber or sawing logs. And then when you get home and log into your PC, all the efforts you put in on the phone will be available in that version."

Of course, this sort of interaction between games – especially MMOGs and mobile – has long been rumoured (World of Warcraft mobile anyone?). What's significant about Northcutt's comments though is that with GameSpy's technology up and running on iPhone as well as all the consoles, things will be much easier for developers and publishers.

Indeed, Northcutt says in the future online games could become layered experiences that you can interact with across a wide range of gaming devices. "There's no reason why you can't log into your account on the PlayStation 3, on the PC or on the iPhone and share your in-game currency and inventory between platforms," he says.

Yet before we get too carried away, Northcutt is keen to point out he thinks iPhone will also provide a great opportunity for smaller developers making the simpler mobile games to which GameSpy's technology can add the likes of multiplayer, in-game comms or downloadable content.

"I think the way Apple has approached the whole process and the Apps Store is great for independent developers," he enthuses. "We'll be getting our technology working on the platform, and as well as working with the big publishers, we're also going to be helping the smaller developers. We'll be more price sensitive and tailor our technology to offer the sort of easy-to-implement features that are important to those guys."

So watch this space. It might not be long before there are a wave of multiplayer and online-enabled iPhone games coming down the chute to the App Store.