Sharp are hoping to release a 3D smartphone by the end of the year. The device will feature a 3D camera, but that is about all that is known at the moment. Any further details on the device E.g. name, size, spec, OS, are a mystery, though chances are OS wise Android will be a firm favourite.
It's an exciting step for the smartphone industry and it's not as ambitious as it sounds. With Nintendo's 3DS proving mobile (glasses-less) devices can work and work well, this could prove more than a gimmick.
Glasses-less 3D technology is better suited to smaller devices such as phones. The difficulty is in transferring this technology to large screens like televisions without the large cost this attracts.
Sharp are yet to make a mark in the smartphone market and their last attempt the Microsoft Kin flopped earlier this year so they will be focusing a lot of attention on this latest handset to make sure consumers don't overlook it in favour of established giants like the HTC Desire, Droid and iPhone.
They'll have to make sure that they do not focus too heavily on the 3D side and neglect other aspects of the phone which are expected in a smartphone i.e. fast web browsing, quality apps etc. A mobile 3D camera does seem an attractive prospect though, so let's hope Sharp don't let us down.
We'll keep you posted as any more news comes in.
What do you think so far? Does the prospect of a 3D smartphone get your juices flowing?
Source: Zath