The jostling at the starting gate reflects the huge potential the industry sees for 3D in the world's biggest television market, analysts said.

"It's still too early to say when 3D TV will enjoy widespread popularity in China because the technology still lacks sufficient content now," said Bai Weimin, vice president and secretary-general of the China Video Industry Association. "But the situation has started to change."

The 3D technology on computers is also in a fledgling stage compared with cinema, but several innovative applications are starting to appear with commercial potential.

A display of technology related to video-based 3D models was exhibited at the Intel Developer Forum last month in Beijing.

The technology would allow normal users to create 3D models quickly using pictures or video from family cameras.

"It does matter because it enables amateurs to create and customize realistic 3D content for the first time," an Intel official at the demo booth said.

Generally speaking, it would take someone between two weeks and several months to create a 3D video using professional software and cameras.

The 3D technology also has potential on Internet sites such as online shopping, allowing sellers to display products in three dimensions, the Intel researcher added.

But that development still awaits the release of the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which is expected to better support 3D, experts said.

A Shenzhen-based firm is also developing a 3D solution for PC vendors, receiving several orders.

"We have provided screen adaptation for 3D for some top PC brands, and such products will be available in several months," said Luo Wei, marketing manager of the Shenzhen Super Perfect Optics Ltd (SuperD).

The screen adaptation and glass may bump up the price of a laptop by about 1,000 yuan (US$147), according to Luo, who declined to reveal which brands are interested in his 3D solution.

Asus is among the first batch of brands to launch 3D laptops. But its 3D laptop model, with special glass, costs 15,000 yuan, almost triple the price of a normal laptop.

Lenovo, China's No. 1 PC maker, said it plans to unveil two 3D laptops by the end of this year, with the starting price at about 6,000 yuan.

Besides laptops, Shenzhen SuperD has also provided 3D development for mobile phones, Luo added.

A phone called Ouidoo, which supports a 3D social-networking virtual world application, debuted in China last month, using China Mobile's 3G standard.

Telephone handsets, with a screen up to 4 inches, will become the biggest sector to adopt 3D by 2018, according to DisplaySearch.