HTC bets big on VR, AR, suite of software apps

HTC Corp is betting big on virtual reality and augmented reality technology and accelerating its steps to offer a suite of software applications that are intended to make people's lives colorful and more productive, said Alvin Wang Graylin, China president of HTC.

"The world has irreversibly changed in the last five months taking us all on an accelerated path towards a digital-first future. This video-centric 'New Normal' we are living will rapidly transition to the XR first 'Next Normal' that awaits us," Graylin said.

XR is the umbrella category that covers all the various forms of computer-altered reality, including augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality.

He is bullish on the prospects of AR and VR applications in a string of sectors, such as office, social contact, entertainment and education, along with the development of 5G and other hardware technologies.

The company also launched its VIVE XR Suite on Tuesday, which is an integrated application bundle that enables users to work, learn, socialize and even attend events immersively from anywhere using most modern computing devices.

Comprised of five major applications, including VIVE Sync, VIVE Sessions, VIVE Campus, VIVE Social, and VIVE Museum, the VIVE XR Suite is targeted to launch in the third quarter of 2020 in China, with additional regions to follow throughout the year.

HTC has announced major partnerships with leaders in various industries to reach customers of all sizes. For instance, internet search giant Baidu has established an in-depth partnership with HTC to explore new developments in VR technology and application, broaden the boundary of VR business services and create various immersive experiences for consumers.

Moreover, Hewlett-Packard, the global PC market leader, will pre-install the VIVE XR Suite in its mainstream business PCs/laptops to meet the needs of users brought on by the sweeping changes in the world now and in the coming future.

Graylin said by working together with so many leading companies, he is confident the company will be able to make a real impact in accelerating VR adoption in the near term and ultimately enabling an XR-powered global workforce.