Toshiba has announced the launch of a powerful MPEG-4 encoder and decoder LSI that brings video-game-grade 3D graphics to cellular phones.

The latest addition to Toshiba's T series of MPEG-4 LSI, the T4G supports fast rendering of graphics, including advanced shading, texture mapping, special effects and other visualization functions, enabling mobile phones to offer high-resolution 3D graphics matching those of current game consoles.

Alongside its 3D graphic processor, T4G integrates a JPEG codec for a 2-megapixel camera and an LCD control circuit for a QVGA panel. The need for external memory is eliminated by the provision of embedded-DRAM fabricated with 130-nanometer process technology. Power consumption (at 125 MHz operation) is between 170 to 230 milliwatts, and the chip is packaged in a 12 x 12mm ball gird array.

Sample shipments of T4G will start in the second quarter of calendar year 2004, at a unit price of 4,000 yen. Mass production is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2004.