Abstract: Provided is a game pad (10) comprising left and right handle housings (12, 14) adapted to be gripped by a user. The left and right handle housings (12, 14) are interconnected in such a manner as to enable them to be moved apart a sufficient amount to define therebetween a central space (68) for receiving and gripping a handheld information processing device (70) such as a smart phone or the like in a lengthwise orientation. The game pad (10) contains control circuitry (72, 74) and a communications module (80) whereby the game pad (10) can generate control signals and communicate these via a short range wireless protocol to the smart phone (70) in order to exert some control over a game or other application running on the smart phone (70).