TECHNOLOGY which turns a smartphone into a camera that takes 360-degree panorama pictures has been developed with help from a Tyneside games company.

The BubbleScope was invented by West Country designer Tom Lawton, who has spent 10 years bringing it to market.

Newcastle-based software developers Fluid Pixel have worked with him on a phone application which enables the pictures to be shot and then shared online through Facebook and Twitter.

Fluid managing director Stuart Varrall said: “We were initially invited to get involved in the BubbleScope project with BubblePix through a contact at DigitalCity Business. It took around four months to develop the BubblePix app and we will be launching later this year.”

The four-year-old firm has become the first North East company to have its games downloaded two million times from Nokia’s Ovi Store for smartphones.

The company behind games such as virtual pet game Animentals and licensed content for the Italian football team is one of eight UK companies to have achieved the feat.

It also develops games for other platforms such as iPhone, iPad and Android, including the puzzle game Revolve.

BubblePix has already attracted good publicity in the industry and customers are signing up online to get hold of the app as soon as it is launched.

Varrall said: “We really do think BubblePix could go all the way – it’s effectively like having your own Google Streetview-type ability on your smartphone.”

Paul Callaghan, deputy chief executive of DigitalCity Business, said he was delighted to see a North East company leading the way in app development and making such a significant contribution to the digital economy.

“We have worked with Fluid Pixel from its inception and it’s great to see the team involved in such a project.

“This is the type of app that takes off globally and becomes the next ‘must-have’ thing.”