Gameplay signs Orange WAP deal

Leading UK games website Gameplay.com has linked up with Orange – and announced the 1 millionth message posted on its chat forums.

The agreement with Orange will see Gameplay provide games content and m-commerce services on the Orange website and WAP (wireless application protocol) portal. The move comes hot on the heels of Gameplay’s recently-launched WAP-based mobile Internet platform.

Orange customers will be able to play and buy games, as well as read games news and reviews – taken from Gameplay’s magazine, Spank! Content will be updated daily and include top ten charts. They will also be able to play a range of games specially developed for WAP access. Orange customers will be able to call Gameplay’s dedicated customer services centre to order games directly from their WAP phone.

“The distribution of games through WAP and Web-based services is of great strategic importance for our future across Europe,” says Gameplay chief executive Mark Bernstein.

Sue Lambert, head of strategic relations at Orange, says: “We are pleased to align ourselves with Gameplay, which shares our customer focus and reputation for innovation and excellence.”

Gameplay’s mobile services, launched in the UK in May, have so far generated more than 140,000 page impressions.