Nokia has obtained a worldwide licence for the use of Immersion's VibeTonz feedback technology, bringing interaction-through-vibration to Nokia handsets.

The field of buzzing interfaces, known as "haptics", is based around recreating the vibrational pattern of pushing a button, or sliding a control, then recreating that pattern using the actuator in the handset.

One of the most serious barriers to haptics has been the lack of a standard API (Application Programmers Interface), and it's notable that this deal includes Immersion providing such an API to Forum Nokia members.

In theory, the Immersion technology could be a software upgrade to handsets, as it uses the already-fitted actuator, but it may be that current Nokia devices have insufficient control over their vibration functions.

Nokia's N95 already features the reassuring buzz when switched on, as seen in Sony Ericsson handsets before, but this deal should spread vibrations to other applications and perhaps give Nokia a way to out-gimmick the iPhone. ®

Related stories

• Nokia ships 100 million phones in Q2 (2 August 2007)
• Nokia goes all Twango (24 July 2007)
• Sony Ericsson dials up revenue and profits jump (13 July 2007)
• Nokia swallows Skype on tablet deal (11 July 2007)
• 'Let's track paedos with chip implants' - top cop fails tech test (16 July 2006)
• Sony ordered to pay $90.7m in PS2 patent dispute (29 March 2005)
• Tool lets blind people ‘touch’ graphics (15 September 2003)
• Microsoft gets touchy feely with $26m Xbox pay-off (29 July 2003)