Who says virtual reality should be limited to gaming and consumer entertainment?
HTC belives the possibilities for VR go far beyond the realm of gaming and could be a powerful tool for businesses – which is why they have announced there will be a ‘business edition’ of the VR headset.
The Vive Business Edition or Vive BE is aimed at enterprise with “additional services adapted for business and commercial environments”.
Vive BE appears to be nearly identical to the consumer version of the Vive. The only difference is it will come with commercial licensing, a dedicated ‘Business Edition’ customer support line and a 12-month limited warranty. And organisations will be able to buy them in bulk.
However, Vive BE will be more expensive than the consumer version, raking in £849 per headset, instead of the £689 price us consumers are paying.
The hardware maker has partnered with software company Dassault Systemes who are developing VR platforms specifically for businesses environments.
“With Vive BE, we are answering the overwhelming demand from global industries for a complete VR experience, to provide innovative solutions for their business needs,” Daniel O’Brien, HTC vice president of VR, said.
“Expediting the growth of partner organisations through application of Vive technology is an incredibly important part of our ongoing VR strategy, and will ensure Vive continues to be at the forefront of the enterprise sector.”
Vive BE will launch this month in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany and France.
The box will come with a complete Vive BE system with headset, two base stations, two controllers, a 3-in-1 cable and four face cushions.