The wireless industry inched closer to the third dimension with two new major announcements on the 3D front.
First, technology company HI Corp. said it launched its Mascot Capsule Micro3D Engine extension for Qualcomm Inc.’s BREW application download service, which means BREW content developers will be able to use the engine to develop 3D games and content.
“HI Corp. is using the extensibility of the BREW platform to enable developers to take wireless games and content to the next level,” said Jan Lezny, senior director of developer and OEM relations for Qualcomm’s Internet Services. “The company’s Mascot Capsule Micro3D Engine is a tool that BREW developers will find beneficial in the development of 3D applications and visually rich content.”
Verizon Wireless, U.S Cellular Corp. and several other CDMA carriers across the world offer BREW application download services.
Separately, Synergenix Interactive announced it added 3D support to its Mophun game engine, which is used in several Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ltd. handsets. Synergenix said game developers will be able to use the new 3D technology to develop 3D games for the Sony Ericsson handsets that use the company’s Mophun engine.
Several companies are focused specifically on the 3D market, including HI Corp., Superscape and Fathammer. Further, there are a handful of 3D wireless games and devices already available. The Sony Ericsson P800 ships with two 3D games included. Several 3D games are available for the Symbian operating system and Microsoft Corp.’s Pocket PC OS. Several gaming-development companies, including Cybiko Wireless and Handy Games, have announced plans to create 3D applications. And according to the EE Times, Mitsubishi has developed its own 3D graphics technology for its new D504i phone-believed to be the first phone to include 3D capabilities at the hardware level.
