T-Mobile Selects 6 Startups to Create 5G AR Experiences Using Snapdragon Spaces

Qualcomm launched its Snapdragon Spaces platform last year for developers to create augmented reality (AR) experiences for the company’s smart glasses. Bringing on collaborators like Square Enix and T-Mobile, the latter has announced its T-Mobile Accelerator and the six participating startups looking to create new 5G-enabled AR apps.

Krikey Minigolf image1
Krikey Minigolf

The participants will use the Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform to develop, test and bring to market new AR products and services, aided by T-Mobile engineers and Qualcomm experts. They’ll be using the first smart glasses to support the platform; the Lenovo ThinkReality A3. The six companies to join the programme are Beem, Krikey, Mawari, Mohx-Games, Pluto, and VictoryXR.

  • Beem – Specialises in live and on-demand communication in AR.
  • Krikey – An AR gaming and social media app which launched its first title Yaatra in 2020 and then avatar NFTs in 2022.
  • Mawari – A Japanese startup providing an AR-focused streaming SDK.
  • Mohx-Games – A company focused on immersive AR gaming and entertainment experiences.
  • Pluto – Offers Pluto VR, a shared presence communication app and PlutoSphere, for streaming high-end PC VR games without a PC.
  • VictoryXR – Immersive education in VR & AR.

“Smart glasses will completely change how we connect and experience the world around us,” said John Saw, EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies at T-Mobile in a statement. “With T-Mobile 5G we have the capacity and performance needed to power high-bandwidth, immersive AR experiences for smart glasses, but it’s the developers and entrepreneurs that will bring these new applications to life.”

Lenovo ThinkReality A3
Lenovo’s ThinkReality A3

These won’t be the only AR startups to join the initiative, more will be added on a rolling basis. The programme is designed to help build an ecosystem of AR experiences as smart glasses become more readily available.

While Qualcomm doesn’t build its own smart glasses, the company does make reference designs like the XR1 AR Smart Viewer for OEMs to utilise as a based model. Qualcomm has also launched in recent months its $100 million USD Snapdragon Metaverse Fund to help finance new developer initiatives.

As further details regarding the T-Mobile Accelerator are released gmw3 will keep you updated.

The VR Job Hub: Schell Games, Krikey, Media Molecule

Virtual reality (VR) is a rather cool industry to be working in at the moment. Rather than trying to speed up the destruction of humanity by developing AI, the field of VR is wide-ranging, from entertainment to training and healthcare. And don’t forget about augmented reality (AR) which is proving rather useful. If you want to be at the cutting edge then one of these following jobs may help.

Location Company Role Link
San Francisco, CA Krikey Data Engineer Click Here to Apply
San Francisco, CA Krikey Android Developer Click Here to Apply
San Francisco, CA Krikey iOS Developer Click Here to Apply
San Francisco, CA Krikey Unity Developer Click Here to Apply
San Francisco, CA Krikey Product Manager, iOS Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Media Molecule Development Ops Programmer Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Media Molecule Gameplay Programmer Click Here to Apply
Guildford, UK Media Molecule Server Developer Click Here to Apply
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Schell Games Senior Technical Artist Click Here to Apply
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Schell Games Game Designer Click Here to Apply
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Schell Games Engineering Manager Click Here to Apply
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Schell Games Senior Unreal Game Engineer Click Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.

Play Beach Volleyball and Mini Golf in AR With Krikey

Krikey is an augmented reality (AR) app for iOS and Android devices that has lots of fun little videogames, having previously released a football title as part of the FIFA World Cup 2018, and an ice-cream experience for National Ice Cream month. The latest to arrive is Beach Volleyball and two Mini Golf courses.

Krikey Minigolf image1

All designed to be multiplayer focused played between friends locally or around the world, the Beach Volleyball experience enables anyone to play the popular sport anywhere they like, tapping the ball back and forth over a virtual net.

And then there are the two mini golf courses, Mini Golf: 7 Wonders of the World and Fruit. In 7 Wonders of the World, players start at the Taj Mahal and can then work through all seven of the new wonders, including the Great Wall of China and Christ the Redeemer. While Mini Golf: Fruit takes players through six levels of courses with mango, apple, and strawberry obstacles to avoid.

Krikey is currently available on the App Store and Google Play for free. Simply open the app, find some space, and then tap on the Volleyball or Golf icon on the Krikey wheel to start playing. Check out the trailers for each videogame below, and for further updates on Krikey keep reading VRFocus.

Krikey Launches Multiplayer AR Title

For some time now, iPhone and iPad users have been able to download the Krikey app to enjoy a range of augmented reality (AR) mini-games, such as the recent Shark Week title which was introduced during the Discovery Channel Shark Week with the aim of promotion marine conservation. Now the company are bringing the app to Android users, and are introducing new multiplayer functionality.

Krikey’s creators say that the app is built on AR Foundation, an SDK toolkit which incorporates both Apple’s ARKit and Google’s ARCore to provide advanced AR functionality.

Krikey

The Krikey app has been available on iOS since February, and now will be launching on the Google Play Store, featuring a brand new multiplayer AR-networked Tennis title. Only fairly recently has AR been able to offer the ability to let multiple users share the same AR instance in order to make true AR multiplayer possible.

The AR Foundation SDK allows Krikey to use ARCore functions such as Camera Translation, Plane Detection and other advanced features which improve the AR experience for users.

Krikey is said to be able to allow users in different real-world locations play together by using virtual machines to connect two users and use the smartphone camera to map the physical space in order to accurately place AR objects. Users then compete to get the highest score.

The app is the creation of two sisters, Jhanvi and Ketaki Shriram who have embarked on a mission to entertain the world using AR technology. Since launch, Krikey have worked with the likes of Conservation International and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in order to create branded AR content.

Krikey AR Shark game

The app is available for free from the Google Play Store and Apple app Store. Further information can be found on the official company website. The trailer for the app is available to view below.

For future coverage on new and upcoming AR apps and services, keep checking back with VRFocus.

Krikey Teams Up With Van Leeuwen To Release New Ice Cream-Themed AR Experience

Augmented reality (AR) social gaming app Krikey has team up with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to celebration their ten year anniversary and Nation Ice Cream month to create a new ice cream-themed AR mobile gaming experience.

Krikey

The experience features Van Leeuwen’s ten anniversary limited edition flavors and fan favourites to not only promote the brand but also get players mouths watering. Scoops of Van Leeuwen’s summer ice cream flavors will be thrown towards the player with increasing speeds and it is down to the player to stack as many scoops as possible. Miss a scoop and it will splat on the screen, blocking the view of other incoming scoops. Once more, the title is able to be played alone or with others as a multiplayer AR experience.

This new release is the first branded AR experience that has been released on Krikey. By using the AR technology to allow brands to transform their products into a fun, social activity that allows for unique opportunities of user engagement beyond the limits of the physical product. It was only back in June that Krikey launched a soccer mini-game to celebrate the World Cup and now with this new branded release, the range of experiences available to users is ever growing.

Krikey Van Leeuwen

Krikey was created by Jhanvi and Ketaki Shriram after the two sisters came together in 2012 to work on a feature film titled “True Son” which  premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and was acquired by FusionTV/Univisio. Since then the two collaborated on a number of virtual reality (VR) films before finally becoming interesting AR products and exploring the technology before building the Krikey app.

The collaboration with Van Leeuwen is not only a new mini-game for users but marks the start of what could be a future of numerous branded released for Krikey. offering users plenty of new opportunities to engage with products and brands.

Krikey is available to download now on the Apple App Store for free and there is a short trailer below which showcases the Van Leeuwent ice cream mini-game below. For more on AR entertainment in the future, keep reading VRFocus.