Verizon trumpets mobile games at CTIA

Okay, so it seems a bit over-the-top for US operator Verizon Wireless to be press releasing the fact that it's launching some new mobile games. Isn't that what operators do every week?

But the fact that Verizon has taken such a step at this week's CTIA show is quite interesting.

Actually, there are nine separate press releases focusing on different publishers: Gameloft, Glu, Konami, Mobitween, Namco Networks, RealNetworks, SkyZone Entertainment, Smashing Ideas and Sony Pictures Television.

A couple of things stand out. First, no EA Mobile, who you'd expect to be in there normally.

Second, the inclusion of Mobitween and Smashing Ideas, both of whom focus on Flash Lite games. The clear indication is that Verizon is placing more emphasis on this area, which has been ignored by many carriers in the past.

But the fact that Verizon is choosing to shout about games adds more fuel to the sense that maybe, just maybe, games are set to get more public love from the mobile industry in the latter part of 2008 and into 2009.