HTC seeks more VR content as it takes on Facebook, Sony

HTC Corp will step up efforts to boost virtual reality (VR) content, as the Taiwan-based firm seeks to outcompete Facebook Inc and Sony Corp in the booming sector.

"The shortage of killer applications or quality content is still one of the major bottlenecks for VR's development," said Alvin Graylin, head of HTC's VR business in the mainland.

According to him, HTC Vive, the firm's virtual reality headset, has seen a big jump in its VR content applications, from around 50 in May to more than 1,200 in December.

"But that is not enough. We need to pour more efforts so that everyone can access virtual reality experience," Graylin said at a startup event in Beijing on Tuesday.

As part of its broad efforts to build a VR ecosystem, HTC has established Vive X accelerator to support promising startups. It has offices in Beijing, Shenzhen, Taipei and San Francisco.

Raymond Pao, HTC Associate Vice-President of VR New Technology, said software developers are the key for an ecosystem to thrive.

In July, the firm set up an alliance that pulled together 28 of the world's leading venture capital firms. The alliance has set aside $10 billion of capital to invest in the future of VR and set the direction of where VR is going.

Jason Fan, Chief Operation Officer of Beijing Chuansong Technologies Co Ltd, a startup which developed a wireless solution for HTC Vive, said more efforts are needed to educate consumers what VR is and bring down the price of VR headsets.

According Strategy Analytics, an American research firm, the global virtual reality headset market will hit $895 million in revenue in 2016.

Tian Yuanyuan contributed to the story