Sprint, Verizon to carry EA games

In a matter of weeks, Electronic Arts will have gone from mobile-game wannabe to contender. That's how long the publisher says it will take to give mobile subscribers to Verizon and Sprint--the number two and three mobile providers--easy access to the first of 20 to 25 games it hopes to release before the year ends.

EA is moving aggressively into the mobile space and has said it hopes to see its efforts drive $25 million into company coffers over the current fiscal year.

Among those games coming to Verizon customers are Madden NFL 06, NBA Live 06, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, FIFA 06, Need for Speed Most Wanted, The Sims 2, and Pogo.com games Tri-Peaks Solitaire, Turbo 21, and Poppit. Verizon subscribers with V Cast-enabled phones will be able to buy an excusive mobile version of Need for Speed Underground 2

Due soon on the Sprint network are Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, Poppit, Turbo 21, and Tri-Peaks Solitaire.

Speaking of the deals, John Batter, VP and general manager of EA Mobile said today, "We are 100 percent committed to delivering the most compelling on-the-go entertainment experiences to mobile phone users."

EA's newfound partners give it new standing as a mobile player, but they have yet to partner with the country's largest carrier, Cingular. Jamdat, EA's new competitor in the mobile space, has more than 70 mobile software applications available to Cingular customers.