A number of top smartphone companies may be developing smartphones and other devices with built-in micro projectors, inside reports claim. A Taiwan-area contractor, Foxlink, is understood to have entered the young field and is deemed likely to supply the projectors to Apple, Nokia and Samsung, all of whom are supposedly introducing handhelds with the technology by the end of the year. The projectors' features are unknown as are the device names and features, though Foxlink already has a close tie with Apple through its manufacturing of other components.

Of the three companies named, Samsung already has a shipping projector phone and demonstrates the most likely use of the technology. A top-mounted projector lets it beam content from the phone, such as a slideshow or video, at a much larger size and without having to use a physical add-on.

Whether or not Apple would ever develop an iPhone, iPod touch or similar device with a projector is uncertain. So far, the company is only rumored to be developing iPods with cameras rather than projectors, and it has typically left TV-level output to the Apple TV and video output cables. Battery life is a concern for all companies as even dedicated micro projectors often last no longer than an average movie when not plugged in.