DoCoMo phone targets Wii fans
Mariko Sanchantain, Financial Times
May 21st, 2007
NTT DoCoMo is set to launch the world's first motion-sensitive mobile phone as early as this week as Japan's leading mobile carrier attempts to capitalise on the phenomenal success of Nintendo's Wii next-generation game console.
Equipped with a tiny motion-sensing camera, DoCoMo's mobile phone allows its users to play action games such as bowling, boxing or tennis by simulating the motions of the sport with their phone in hand. The SH904i model, made by Sharp, is expected to go on sale as early as Friday, with a price tag ranging from Y30,000-Y40,000 ($250-$330).
About GestureTek Mobile
GestureTek Mobile is a world leader in gesture-based user interface for mobile devices and the inventor of the patented, award-winning EyeMobile Engine. EyeMobile Engine is the world’s first software-only solution that uses the existing camera on a cell phone or mobile Internet device to provide people with the ability to interact with their device using gestures. By shaking, rocking or rolling the phone (or making hand motions in front of the phone) users can answer a call, play mobile games, scroll menus, navigate maps, view images and documents, browse the web, enter text messages and do anything else they would normally do on their mobile device, without pressing buttons. Licensees of GestureTek’s patents or technologies include Sony for the EyeToy, Microsoft for the XBOX 360 and Hasbro for the ION Educational Gaming System. GestureTek Mobile’s award wins include the 2008 Mobile Innovation Global Award, the LAPTOP Magazine ‘Best of CTIA’ Award and the NATPE++ Award for the Hottest Mobile Application. Games powered by the EyeMobile Engine have been recognized by the BREW Game Developer Awards, the International Mobile Gaming Awards and the IGN Editors Choice Awards. GestureTek Mobile developed the first gesture-recognition software to be embedded in NTT DoCoMo phones in Japan and provided the software for the first gesture-controlled mapping application on a cellphone. EyeMobile supports many handsets on the JAVA, BREW, SYMBIAN, WINDOWS MOBILE and DOJA platforms. Applications are available for over the air download on the Verizon network. Full developer tools are available on the Qualcomm website. A catalogue of turnkey games and applications for multiple platforms are available from the GestureTek mobile site. GestureTek Mobile is a business unit of GestureTek Inc., pioneer, patent-holder and world-leader in computer vision control for presentation and entertainment systems.