Poker newest distraction for BlackBerry users

That businessman hunched over his BlackBerry in furious concentration? He could be buying, selling or trading. Or, following the launch of mobile poker for the popular wireless device, he might be playing Texas Hold'em.

Poker is one of a line of mobile games being released by Gameloft, a leader cell phone entertainment designer.

The announcement comes after BlackBerry's release of its new Pearl product, a sleeker version of their wireless cell phone, featuring improved graphics and multimedia features for a more affordable price.

"It's becoming quite common to see people playing games on their BlackBerry," Mark Guibert, vice president of corporate marketing for Research in Motion, the company that makes the BlackBerry, told the New York Times.

"The reality is that the market isn't split into two binary segments of gamers and non-gamers."

In addition to poker, Gameloft is releasing the racing game Asphalt: Urban GT 2, a battle simulation, Midnight Pool and games inspired by the TV series' Lost and Desperate Housewives.

Most of the games cost about $7 and are available for download at the Gameloft Web site.

Related Articles:

Dial In For Mobile Poker
Mobile Poker Hits the U.K. Streets
Taking Poker Mobile in U.K.
Harrah's to Launch World Series Mobile