The unthinkable has happened. An affiliate of Nintendo has confirmed that they are currently developing a Pokemon-based app for the iPhone. Those adorable pocket monsters will be available on the Japanese App Store this Summer. Is this an innocuous move by Nintendo to make a few extra bucks? Or does it signal something more meaningful?

The app is called Pokemon Say Tap, and is essentially a very light rhythm game with some Pokemon overtones. Players will attempt to tap on trading cards of pokemon during the Pokemon theme song. We can only assume this means the version of the theme song where they individually name all of the Pokemon.

It's a little bit hard to believe this is even happening. Nintendo has been resolute through its history that its properties should never end up on a competing piece of hardware. Seeing as how the iPhone is currently trouncing Nintendo's "3DS" handheld console, it's surprising that they'd offer up one of their most popular series like this.

However, this could simply be an advertising play for Nintendo. This is very far from a full, true Pokemon game on the iPhone. Nintendo could simply be trying to whet the appetites of iPhone games to encourage them to come home to Nintendo for some true Pokemon action.

We'll be watching this one closely. Pokemon Say Tap is also due to release on Android.