Nokia's decision to add video-gaming capabilities to its wireless phones could prompt other mobile handset vendors to follow suit, industry sources said. Chip vendors see the possible trend as a growing opportunity where they can leverage the software and hardware expertise earned in other consumer electronics markets, such as digital still cameras and MP3 audio players.
TI now has "hundreds" of engineers working at its Cellular Media group, which was established last summer, Waters said. The group is independent of TI's division that handles the Omap processor platform for mobile handsets. "Imaging and gaming" are the two driving forces behind the growth of mobile phones and new revenue streams for operators, Waters said.
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