Valve has made their first push into mobile development with the release of a free Steam app for iOS and Android. No, you can't play Half Life 2 on your phone (yet), but you can now take advantage of Steam's community features and storefront when you're out and about.
For the moment, the app requires you to opt into a closed beta program, meaning not everyone will get immediate access. According to Valve's official announcement, "those who wish to join the beta just need to download the Steam app (free of charge) and log in to their Steam account via the mobile app to express interest in the beta."
Once you're in, the app enables you to chat with your friends cross-platform, browse through community profiles and Steam groups, and even keep up to date on the latest sales. Should you feel so inclined, you can even make purchases from your phone. Now, instead of texting your exes when you get drunk at a party, you can just hop on your phone and buy 25 copies of Farm Simulator 2011. It's a different kind of regret.
While this new app might not be the most groundbreaking thing that Valve has ever done, it's a cool bonus for the thousands of gamers out there that think of Steam as a gaming-centric social network.
The iPhone and iPad version requires iOS 4.0 or greater, while the Android version requires 2.1 or above.
