The gaming battle arena is heating up. After new console launches from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, smartphone manufacturer ZTE (News - Alert) and Shanghai-based The9, the second-largest online game operator in China, got together to propel the entertainment industry in China to new heights. The spotlight was turned on their FunBox, supposedly the world’s fastest gaming console.

What is reportedly unique about this cube-shaped game console is that it offers an all-in-one gaming, video-chatting and online video experience. Claiming to be the first home entertainment console to support video-chatting, FunBox allows users to conduct video calls on their smart televisions.

It comes in 12 different colors, supports all HD resolutions and can stream videos from USB connected devices as well. With a dual-antenna, dual-frequency Wi-Fi design, and a Bluetooth controller, FunBox offers superior connectivity and robust network performance.

The Android-powered game console with NVIDIA’s (News - Alert) quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 processor has 8GB internal memory, 2GB RAM, a pair of USB ports with dual-band Wi-Fi support and a remote mouse to control the media playback. These specifications apparently give FunBox an edge over currently existing game consoles in the market.

 “The FunBox has opened up new possibilities in the home entertainment space,” Adam Zeng, Chairman of ZTE9, said today in Beijing at an event marking the public debut of the FunBox. “The FunBox will be supported by a comprehensive ecosystem that encompasses hardware, content and channels, as we are committed to bringing a high-quality home entertainment experience to consumers.”

ZTE observed that users will be able to buy personalized versions of the FunBox with customized casings in the near future.

With one of China’s biggest telcos  joining hands with one of the country’s biggest online game publishers to deliver genuine innovation and high performance to consumers, the home entertainment market in China will probably see a leap.

This launch is expected to be the beginning of a series of landmark 4G LTE (News - Alert) smartphones by ZTE. In addition, the company is looking to bring in a new entertainment experience that appeals to the younger generation of consumers. Online sales for the FunBox are expected to commence in April.

Whether this native-built gaming console will see the light of other countries is not known. Currently it’s a “hands off- China Only” affair.