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January 02, 2006
Imagination Technology Brings Console-Class Gaming to Mobile Phones
TMCnet Communications and Broadband Columnist
The new generation of mobile phones is expected to rival some, if not all gaming systems. Imagination Technologies, a provider of system-on-chip intellectual property (SoC IP), is introducing technology that will enable console-class 3D gaming, advanced user interfaces and 3D messaging.
The ground-breaking graphics technology, PowerVR from Imagination Technologies, complete with highly efficient and low-bandwidth architecture, has made console-class gaming possible in the mobile world. The PowerVR has become widely excepted by the world’s top silicon companies leading to a new mobile gaming platform.
Mobile device manufacturers and service providers that have already adopted the platform include SONY Ericsson, Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, SK Teletech, NTT DoCoMo (FOMA) and Dell.
Imagination Technologies is set to demonstrate the prototype silicon of the new programmable shader graphics technology. This is the underlying technology adopted in the PowerVR SGX shader-based graphics and video architecture that Imagination recently announced.
Newly available for licensing, the Power SGX is part of the PowerVR Series5 shader graphics and video core family that is scalable and fully programmable. The integrated support for 2D and 3D enables the PowerVR SGX technology to exceed the OpenGL 2.0 shader and Microsoft Vertex and Pixel Shader Model 3 requirements.
PowerVR MBX exceeds OpenGL ES 1.X requirements and delivers massive triangle and fill rates along with full 3D features such as FSAA, curved surfaces, skinning, per-pixel lighting and texture compression.
The current PowerVR MBX is currently available in game titles such as Quake Mobile (PulseMobile), Quake3 CE Noctemware), ChopperFight (Omnigsoft), GeoRallyEX (IonFX), Toy Golf (Fathammer), Solterra (Blacksmith Studios), Stuntcar Extreme (Fathammer), Enigmo (Aspyr), Virtual Pool Mobile (Celeris) and Jackpot Casino (Mobile Stream).
According to Peter McGuinness, Imagination Technologies Business Development Director for the USA division, the PowerVR MBX represents a significant step forward for mobile graphics and has been adopted by six of the top ten semiconductor vendors for their next generation mobile application processors. The PowerVR is the de facto standard today for advanced mobile graphics and McGuinness expects PowerVR SGX to be equally successful for future mobile devices.
Imagination Technologies Group plc develops, licenses and supplies graphics, video and display cores, real-time multi-threaded DSP/RISC processors and communication and broadcast technologies for the mobile, consumer, automotive and PC markets. Partners provided with PowerVR IP include USA-based Freescale, Intel and Texas Instruments as well as Philips, Renesas, Samsung and Sunplus.
Technologies such as PowerVR are an opportunity in the making for companies establishing technology that will optimize battery life for portable and mobile devices. The demand for portable gaming is strong, making the demand for extended mobile battery life even stronger.
Once used for basic communications, the mobile phone has become the perfect portal for all technologies. The ability of Imagination Technologies to establish its platform as a standard amongst some of the leading designers and manufacturers will secure its market share and future revenues – at least until the next level of graphics technology becomes available. Expect to see that from Imagination Technologies as well.
Special Attractions
What’s the Number One VoIP Conference in terms of attendance? What’s the leading VoIP Expo for exhibitors in terms of lead generation? And which VoIP industry event will feature special attractions for Service Providers, Resellers, and the Enterprise and SMB market as well as an overview on the Future of IP Telephony? Answer: INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & Expo, EAST, which runs January 24-27, 2006. See you in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.!
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