MoneyWatch Tech

3D Smartphones Are Coming Right At You

By Erik Sherman

Updated on: March 23, 2010 / 2:34 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

3D will become the next big thing in television -- at least, that's what vendors want the public to believe. If they can do it on a big screen, why not a small one?

That's what Nintendo plans with its new 3D portable gaming hardware that's set for announcement at the E3 gaming show in June. Like some 3D television sets appearing in Japan, it doesn't require users to wear goofy goggles. My BNET colleague Damon Brown says that Nintendo's timing is awful, coming a week before the iPad release and only days before Nintendo itself releases the DSi XL. But put that aside for the moment, because this isn't about games. Think instead of 3D as the future of all mobile devices.

Clearly, if Nintendo can implement this technology in a portable gaming system, 3D video sans glasses could be available on virtually any mobile device. There are some natural reasons why Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), or Google (GOOG) might consider 3D sooner rather than later:

People regularly watch video on smartphones. Many users will find the prospect of 3D imagery and movies to be compelling. So why not give it to them?
Gaming has become a major force on smartphones and it's a natural for 3D technology. It makes sense to have the same benefit available to smartphone users as to those buying portable consoles.
Less obvious but, I suspect, subtly compelling would be adding 3D effects to user interfaces. Companies could have something stand out from a background, providing emphasis for use actions or choices.

In fact, 3D cellphones have been available from Hitachi since last year. It's only a matter of time until one of the vendors gets beyond the novelty factor and finds the substantive value that 3D could provide handset users.

Image: Flickr user Nimbuzz, CC 2.0; photo manipulation by Erik Sherman.