'Rock Band' videogame heading for iPhone

(AFP)

Music videogame star "Rock Band" will soon be touring with Apple's globally popular iPhones.

US videogame titan Electronic Arts (EA) on Friday was inviting "Rock Band" lovers to take their acts on the road with a version of the title expected to be available by month's end at Apple's online App Store.

"Start out playing in grungy dives and work all the way up to stadium-rock stardom," EA Mobile said at its website.

A version of the videogame customized for iPhones and iPod Touch devices will debut with songs from bands including Smashing Pumpkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foo Fighters, and Blink-182, according to EA Mobile.

In a variation on how the videogame is played on consoles, colored buttons will stream along on-screen guitar necks, with players staying in tune by tapping matching spots pictured on touchscreens.

EA Mobile has taken advantage of wireless Bluetooth capabilities in the Apple devices to let as many as three people play together as a virtual band using their iPhones.

People can also play solo.

"Rock Band" made its debut in the smartphone arena last month with a version customized for customers of US telecom carrier Verizon.

A version of "Rock Band" devoted to The Beatles was released for play on videogame consoles last month but it remained a mystery whether the music of the Fab Four will eventually join EA's mobile offerings.

Apple Corps has historically shunned releasing Beatles' music in digital formats because of concerns about piracy.