Windows Phone 7 App of the Week: Xbox Companion

Posted 12/21/2011 at 4:03pm | by Tim Ferrill

1

Comment

Print

When Microsoft announced the Windows Phone platform at Mobile World Congress, Xbox lovers had to be excited about the potential for integration between phone and console. Sadly, those aspirations for a unified gaming platform haven't reached the levels that many of us dream about, but Microsoft is making an effort to provide added value to customers who embrace the Microsoft ecosystem.

The Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone provides a way for Xbox 360 owners to control their console and more efficiently browse music and video using their Windows Phone. After a quick pairing process Windows Phone users can search or browse for videos on Netflix, the Zune Marketplace, or other sources using their phone. This video content can then be queued to play through the Xbox to a HDTV, or you can simply get more information on the movie such as cast details or movie reviews.

Obviously we're still a far cry from a unified gaming platform between the console, phone, and (most importantly) the PC. But if you think about it, even the basic functionality provided in this first version of the Xbox Companion app Microsoft has accomplished some things other platforms can't compete with. We can't wait to see where they take things from here.

Xbox Companion is a free download from the Windows Phone Marketplace.