Total Immersion, int13 in Smartphone Augmented Reality Partnership

Total Immersion, an augmented reality company that has apparently been around since 1999, contacted [itvt] Tuesday to let us know that it has signed an exclusive distribution partnership agreement with int13, a French software firm that specializes in smartphone applications. The deal calls for the companies to integrate their respective technologies to market embedded AR applications through a new, mobile version of Total Immersion's D'Fusion platform. According to Total Immersion, the initial application will be released in the fourth quarter and will operate on Symbian and Windows Mobile devices, with iPhone and Android support to follow.

Total Immersion bills its patented D'Fusion AR technology as integrating real-time, interactive 3D graphics into a live video stream, and says that the partnership with int13 allows it to expand the D'Fusion platform to mobile devices. D'Fusion Mobile will be offered alongside the company's existing D'Fusion Professional, D'Fusion@Home and D'Fusion Web browser solutions. "At int13, we recognize the value of augmented reality as an engaging new way to interact with consumers," int13 managing director, Stephane Cocquereaumont, said in a prepared statement. "Our aim is to develop games and augmented reality applications that make the most of what smartphones have to offer. With this distribution partnership, we look to benefit from Total Immersion's premier market position as the company brings our combined technology to a global audience." Added Total Immersion CEO, Bruno Uzzan: "This is a win-win for both companies, and for consumers. int13 has developed one of the most dynamic augmented reality libraries for mobile phones. With this agreement, Total Immersion enters the booming smartphone application space, marketing a compelling augmented reality experience on mobile devices."