Xbox Live App for iPhone and iPad Launched by Microsoft

Microsoft released an Xbox Live app for iOS devices on Wednesday, bringing features of Microsoft’s gaming service to Apple devices for the first time. The ability to access Xbox Live has been a distinguishing characteristic of Windows Phone 7 since its launch, and while there have been plenty of third-party apps to allow partial Xbox Live access on Android and iOS devices.

Chat with Xbox Live friends and revel in their achievements. There's also a Home page spotlighting videos to showcase games, tips, etc.You can also check out more information about the newest apps and games on Xbox, as well as gaming tips and breaking news. You can change your Avatar's outfit, send messages to other Live users, update your friends list, edit your Live profile, and view or compare achievements.

The app itself is fairly basic, offering a few of the features you'll find in the Xbox Live hub on Windows Phone 7. Windows Phone users have had Xbox Live services packaged into their mobile experience for a while now, but now iOS users can get a piece of the action. The iOS app doesn't add actual game support in any way. From my limited time with it, the most substantial reason to grab it seems to be messaging your friends.

The iPhone app features the horizontal bar across the bottom of the screen that houses the same sort of circular icons you’d find in a Windows Phone 7 app. WP7's horizontal-swiping navigation, typography, and bottom-bar menu items. It's the same "metro" design language you'll see a lot of in Windows 8. A clever browser-based demo that lets you virtually explore the UI of a Windows Phone from your Android or iPhone handset. While you may already be on a phone of a different OS.

Windows Phone 7 still has a major advantage in that its games can actually integrate with Live. And on Monday, the company announced that the Xbox was getting a user interface refresh, with dozens of new content channels and the addition of a Windows Phone app you can use to control your Xbox. Microsoft’s iOS apps are now icing on top of the cake.