Sharp confirms 3D smartphone plans

Posted on 6 Aug 2010 at 15:26

Sharp has announced its plans to produce a smartphone featuring a glasses-free 3D display, along with a rear-mounted 3D camera.

Although details are sparse at this early stage, Engadget has confirmed with Sharp that a smartphone featuring a true 3D display - without the need to wear additional glasses - is planned by the end of the year, and unlike previous attempts from companies including Hitachi - which launched a Japan-only 3D mobile in partnership with local carrier NDDI - will be available internationally.

Sharp certainly has the experience with 3D technology required to bring such a device to market: its parallax barrier screens, which allow separate 2D images to be displayed to each eye in order to produce a convince illusion of depth and a 3D appearance to the display, are being used at the heart of Nintendo's up-coming 3DS handheld gaming console.

The company's experience in the smartphone market is less obvious, however: while it has made handsets before, the brand certainly doesn't have the cachet of the likes of Nokia or Sony-Ericsson - but being the first to launch a 3D handset internationally could change that in a flash.

Details of specification or operating system for the device are being kept under wraps until a firmer announcement due later this year, but already the company is generating interest - so long as Sharp can keep the price down, its 3D smartphone is certain to sell well.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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