Xbox Live for Mobile is Windows-Based Only

Looks as though Microsoft is definitely bringing Xbox LIVE to mobile phones, but for Windows-based devices only.

While we haven't seen anything official come across the wire, it's apparently official according to Kotaku: Xbox Live is coming to mobile phones. But before you get too excited, there's just one tiny little catch that may throw a wrench into your gaming hopes and dreams: it will only work on Windows-based phones. Gasp! How could you think otherwise?

Apparently the catchy title for the mobile branch of Microsoft's multimedia service will be called Xbox LIVE Games. The information is based on internal Microsoft marketing material dated for December 2009, and only lists the Xbox 360 console, Windows-based PCs, and Windows phones as recipients of the LIVE service. There's no mention of Zune or other non-Windows mobile phones on the sheet.

Although we've known for a few years that Microsoft plans to extend Xbox LIVE beyond the console, last month evidence of the service reaching out to the mobile community surfaced in a job posting on Microsoft's site. Looking for a Principal Program Manager, Microsoft openly admitted that the successful applicant would help "drive the platform and bring Xbox LIVE enabled games to Windows Mobile."

Currently Microsoft hasn't confirmed whether Xbox LIVE Games will be locked into Windows-based phones. We were actually expecting an official announcement during CES 2010, however we're now betting that juicy, meatier details will sprout later this year at E3 2010.