OpenFeint is coming to Android with developer support

The iPhone’s popular social games platform, OpenFeint, is coming to Android with developer support and games in tow

The Openfeint social games network is now on the way to Android, complete with many new games and the potential support of over 9,200 new developers.

If you're not familiar with OpenFeint, the platform gives developers an easier way of monetising their games and users a way of finding them.

It also provides features like achievements and leaderboards, and a community currently estimated at 28 million users and 2,200 live games for developers and players alike.

In short, it is a great solution for developers to enhance their games and one that is free to use. OpenFeint is also Open Source.

What does this mean for Android? Well for one, our lovely Android handsets will hopefully receive greater support from the likes of OpenFeint enthusiasts Glu Mobile, Digital Chocolate and Hudson Entertainment, as well as thousands more.

It also means, thanks to Google being the maker of Android, OpenFeint will support Google Checkout, making purchasing a lot easier.

Another interesting benefit will be the addition of Games Spotlight, an app that helps users discover games. Considering the difficulty in finding quality Android games at the moment, potentially, this could be a God send.

What is most exciting besides all the new features and the addition of a strong community for gamers, as well as achievements, is the enticement it provides for developers to make the jump over, which in turn means more games.

We are certainly pretty psyched to know Android has once again received a sizeable amount of momentum.

This is exactly the sort of move that may helps close the gap between Apple and Android, because let us face it, the latest offerings from the likes of HTC and other manufacturers besides Apple are impressive.

Android just needs an improved marketplace and a boost in the level of developer support to really start to compete, and OpenFeint will certainly help.

"OpenFeint is leading the charge for game developers on Android, helping simplify and improve the game discovery and purchase process for players on the platform," said Niccolo de Masi, CEO of Glu Mobile.

Jason Loia, COO of Digital Chocolate, added, “We are excited about their entry into the Android ecosystem and we look forward to partnering with them to bring the best gaming experience to the Android platform.”

In a similar vein, Jonathan Goldberg, Analyst at Deutsche Bank Equity Research, stated, "This is a big step for OpenFeint and an even bigger step for Android as it becomes a serious mobile gaming platform."

“OpenFeint ushered in mobile online gaming for iOS devices and we think they’ll lead the revolution on Android."

With Apple’s The Game Center to be released sometime this summer, this may well be a strategic move for Aurora Feint, the makers of OpenFeint.

Whilst it is unlikely Apple would effectively pull the plug on such a popular iPhone service, we can not see how the two services would not clash in the future, unless they become a joint effort.

Throwing itself into the ever-popular Android market, particularly the gaming area is certainly a wise move.

The marketplace is an area that needs improvement, and the fluid OpenFeint service and all of its developers in tow will certainly help speed up the process.

It could also start an avalanche of other competitors following the trend. We can only hope.

In related news, OpenFeint secured a strategic investment from China’s The9 this week for $4 million dollars. The9 is an online game developer and operator.