Dolby plans to introduce a surround sound experience for tablets and smartphones. During last month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company detailed how algorithms running on an audio processor chip or ARM processor core could simulate Atmos-like surround sound by essentially tricking the user’s brain into thinking the audio is 3D. While it is not clear when the tech might become available to consumers, Dolby says the first iteration will be ready for hardware partners by the end of this year.

Atmos technology, launched in 2012, is object-based. “This means that sound designers can place or move audio anywhere they like in an Atmos theater, such as the ceiling or front left wall,” reports CNET. “The sound can also move across theaters’ speakers, which makes for a very life-like experience. For example, when a helicopter flies across a movie screen, viewers can hear the sound of the blades travel overhead and across the ceiling from one end to the other.”

“While headphones only have two speakers placed over listeners’ ears, Dolby’s new mobile audio technology still makes it feel like sound is coming from overhead, down below, and all other directions,” explains the post. “The idea is for users to be able to completely plunge themselves into a movie, video game, or music that’s stored on their tablet or smartphone.”

Dolby will partner with hardware manufacturers to bring the mobile audio tech to market. According to Joel Susal, Dolby Laboratories product manager for mobile, it could be incorporated into devices and operating systems using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chip.

The CNET post includes a 3-minute video report on Dolby Atmos.