Mobile Poker

Mobile poker is a name in the poker games. The poker refers to a game of cards. There are many types of poker games played in general. Mobile poker refers to the poker game played on the mobile. This is different from the on the table poker game. On the table poker game having been played first in United States, it is now popular all over the world. The poker games were earlier played in the casinos and later it became one of the home games. While the poker games had bettings in the games played in casinos, the home games were part of their gatherings with limited betting or no betting. The level of play has now reached upto World Poker tournaments from the games played within the tables at casinos.

The mobile poker is a game scaled-down to mobile version of the Texas Hold ‘Em. This is a multi-player poker game developed for PokerRoom. PokerRoom is a site through which the links are given to mobile phones for playing the poker. Presently there is no multi-player functionality in it. It has now only the user against opponents controlled on computer. The aim of the game was to advertise the PokerRoom site by building the poker as a promotional game. The game is allowed to be downloaded free of charge by anyone having account with PokerRoom and a compatible cell phone. There is possibility that the game can be used for a daily competition and to show one’s best poker hands.

The mobile phone game to simulate Texas Hold’Em poker is known as Mobile Poker Trainer through which  bet-limit poker can be played against up to four opponents. The main purpose of the mobile poker trainer is to make the beginner players to learn and practice the poker skills offline. The rules of play are equal to online version. But, the layout has been simplified along with the user interface so that the game will work on Java-compatible mobile devices having very wide range.

The growth of poker games leads to increase in options for poker lover to play. The mobile poker is such a type of game that can be played from the anywhere to anywhere. In an example, if the player is stuck in an airport waiting for the delayed flight or a passenger on a long route, it may give time for the game lover to play the game on his mobile or cellular phone. The mobile poker can be played against people from all over the world, just as in the case of the game played on the internet. But, the game on internet can be played for real money, but it is not on mobile poker.

The cell phones have into existence over a decade now and can be used from anywhere and it has become a common thing with all. They were used  mainly for mutual contacts from different places, communication from one to another, and making and receiving calls. The application of games into the mobiles of cell phones is a recent development. The advancements in the handsets themselves could be the reason for this development. The important thing in the development to the noticed is that the handsets were in black and white with voice only, which has developed into the sets with fully developed color screens.

According to Babbs, 67% of the units around the world have color screen and with Java built in. The fully developed carrier networks also help very much. When the handset is purchased directly, it has the built in billing mechanism and that going to user’s bill is a very clean way.

The more high profile entry is The Hellmuth Holdem game in this mobile poker arena. This is issued by Summus, Inc. earlier this year.  The Summus Inc. is a provider of wireless content having base in Raleigh, NC. Gary Ban, CEO of Summus, identified the demand for poker games on mobile phones and focused on the efforts to develop a game in his company, capable to compete in this emerging area. The planned to develop a multi-player poker game in 2003 and took 6 months to develop the game and by about March 2004, the game had been developed.

Now, there is an invaluable question, could be called a million-dollar question and that is about the future of mobile games in general and the future of poker applications in particular. The very first doubt is that whether the technology is available for play poker for real money now. According to Mr. Babb, it can be done technically, but its practical aspect will be the based on the experience of a consumer. Using credit card in that and its required security could all pose hurdles.

Even if we think that technology exists, it is a matter of time to think about the game for real money on the mobile. Mr. Babb has no doubt and is very optimistic about the game for real money to come on mobile also. According to him, “what has happened with the online sites in the poker world will probably happen in the mobile space”. He feels that a lot of people in the online poker world are looking for the same advantage in mobile space also right now. He feels in the gaming related issue that gaming on mobile for real money will come down to local laws with the gaming regulations in the countries where the cell carrier is operating.

Mr. Gary Ban thinks of real money gaming on mobile, as an opportunity in future for him and his company. He says that they are looking to do the real money mobile game.
The issue of internet gaming for the past couple of years has been found to be a sticky one. The mobile carriers coming under the local laws and regulations, they are finding it difficult to proceed. Another question has arisen whether the mobile service can be offered some kind of offshore gaming application. Running of any type of interstate gaming is illegal in the U.S. Because it is illegal, the chances of the carriers to touch it will be less, due to the reason that their industry is highly regulated, as per Mr. Babbs. Mr.Gary ban agrees that gambling is sensitive and it is difficult for carriers along with device manufacturers and large networks to get around.

A valuable solution has come up by the Infospace for in respect of areas where cash does not change hands, and for rewarding the more skilled players with prizes donated through sponsors. The items of prizes given may range from T-shirts to gift cards which can be used for cash. The primary poker offering by Infospace is Holdem plus for prizes. The idea in the first place is to create something which was not existing at all in the mobile world and that is mobile multi player tournament environment to enable people to compete against each other for the sake of prizes. The results until this has pleased Mr. Babbs. According to him, they have just passed 12 million total games played.

There is a ranking system in the Hellmuth Holdem game in which the players go for the website games to see the way they match to the other subscribers on the system. The results until this in this system have given satisfaction to Gary Ban who launched Hellmuth Holdem. They have achieved the objective of the game, where the limited distribution capability of game has given the expected returns through the amount of subscriptions. The mobile gaming has been considered as a big industry by these companies. The development for new applications for consumers has been continued by these companies. They have a number of games to bring into practice. Most of their games are multi player natured. They vary like casino games, action games, strategy games, etc. They are trying to focus on building a community with their games and go for a tie in the multi player system.

The question that is to be answered is whether the poker community with its continuous growth will embrace mobile gaming. In case of such transition for mobile going, it will have to be seen when it will be possible for taking each other’s money over the cell phones.

The recent picture of delay in flights and the agony of those waiting for it can change to some extent and avoid their anxiety in waiting by choosing to the cell phone or mobile phone games. The day may not be far off that many a time, there is a possibility that this option to tune their mobiles for a game could bring down the tension and agony of waiting passengers.
The software for the mobile poker game can be downloaded freely. But, there are some requirements to be fulfilled. Initially, the poker player must have a valid account with PokerRoom.com. This has to be logged into his account after furnishing the personal information so as to facilitate downloading the Mobile Poker on his mobile phone. After opening the account with the PokerRoom.com, it will be easy and simple to start playing on the mobile phone.

There are series of methods to download and install the poker game to the mobile phone. To start with, the support of the PokerRoom.com to the mobile phone model should be ensured. It is expected that most of the phones would work well with it.

Secondly, it is to be ensured that the operator allows the third party applications and that the downloading of Java games is permitted by the internet settings of the mobile phone.
It is worth to note that some of the operators do not allow access to gambling sites from the mobile phones.

The further step is that the mobile phone number is to be specified. Since the game can be played on mobile phone anywhere in the world, the installation on the mobile has a procedure. According to the procedure, in the case of international format, ‘+’ country code and national number are required to be specified. This should be followed by the PIN code for accessing the game, which will be given by the site.

As a fourth step, two text messages will be sent to the person who wants to download the game, along with the link in the second message. This will help the user of mobile phone for downloading the game. In most of the cases, the user can download by clicking the link. In case of any problem in downloading, the user will have to contact the service provider for information or refer to the phone manual provided to him. Some of the mobile phones do not support automatic opening of links.

The application will be downloaded to the mobile phone after clicking the link. Most of the mobile phones will have choice for folder to save the application. The user then, can start the application navigation to the saved folder. The common folders are ‘Games’ and ‘applications’. The user is permitted to start only after entering the PIN code given to him.
The service or use of mobile phones are not limited to just making calls or receiving the calls. Today, the mobile phones serve a lot of purposes to the user over and above making or receiving calls. Many people are now found addicted to different facilities in the mobile phones. Some may be addicted to the phone cameras, while some others with playing an assortment of video games. The mobile phones are also used for checking the mails or sending the mails. With so many things the mobile phone can provide, it need not have any exception to get connected to online poker games.