Intel and Nokia have jointly opened a research center to develop 3D user interfaces for phones, while Qualcomm unveiled one for mobile apps and services.
The Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Center will aim to create 3D interfaces for their MeeGo platform, the companies said.
It will also look into technologies that would allow the projection of 3D holograms of the person at the other end of a phone call.
The lab will employ around 24 R&D staff and will be located at the University of Oulu's Center For Internet Excellence in Finland.
Nokia's chief technology officer, Rich Green, said 3D interfaces promise to be more natural and intuitive than the 2D ones in use today.
Separately, firm Qualcomm has established a new R&D subsidiary, Qualcomm Services Labs (QSL), to develop mobile services and technologies.
QSL has already launched its first four services: Neer, a location sharing service, Qilroy, a social networking app, Tapioca, a URL shortening tool for content providers, and Vive, a friends-based social recommendation service.