Apple IPhone: The Next Big Handheld Console?

We've all heard of the Apple iPhone - it is advertised everywhere and consumers are even lining up to buy the next iteration whenever it is released. The iPhone's ease of use with regards to cellular communication is regarded as second to none - but what about its future as a gaming console?

It may seem strange to think of a cell phone as being a standalone handheld games console, but the iPhone has the usability and 'under the hood' power to be just that. In the last year alone the iPhone has seen a huge boost in the number of games released, and the number of people downloading those games from Apple's App Store has increased proportionally. The quality of the games has also seen a huge rise. When the iPhone was first released, there were a great many puzzle style games released - the kind of thing we've seen on cell phones for many years; however we are now seeing fully realized 3D games on the iPhone for the first time.

With its innovative 'tilt' controls and touch screen interface, the iPhone offers its users new ways of playing games - with obvious competition from Nintendo's DS console. However, the Apple App Store is a far quicker and easier way of gaining access to the newest games than having to go out and buying a physical cartridge as is the way with the Nintendo DS. With consumers today wanting their media 'ASAP', the downloadable games market is going from strength to strength - with the Apple iPhone really pioneering this new trend.

Many consumers these days are looking for a device that offers multiple different functions within the same piece of hardware. The Apple iPhone offers just this. In the same way that a PC can be used to write documents, edit spreadsheets or play games, so can the iPhone be used to make calls, send text messages andplay games. This multi-function capability is something that people are yearning for in the digital age in which we live.

With competition coming from the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS, the iPhone has a lot of ground to cover before it is regarded as a serious challenge to the throne of these consoles. However, the steps it has made in just a few short years are very encouraging indeed. Apple have managed to make a name for themselves as the number one source of downloadable media - starting with the huge success of iTunes, which now offers movies and TV shows too. Games are a natural progression for the company and it is easy to envisage iTunes becoming a hub for everyone to gain quick and easy access to all of their media needs. The iPhone serves as the portable iteration of this, allowing its users to listen to their music, watch their movies and play their games.

It really is just a matter of time until the iPhone can stand shoulder to shoulder with the other consoles on the market.