Here’s something unexpected; HTC has just announced the next version of the HTC Vive… sort of.
The company has today lifted the lid on what it called the Vive Business Edition (Vive BE). Targeting the burgeoning business sector, this new version of the popular VR HMD isn’t radically different from the once you can buy right now (and have it delivered pretty fast). It does, however, include some extra features for businesses to take advantage of.
Launching later this month in the US, UK, Canada, France and Germany, Vive BE includes:
– Vive BE Headset
– Vive BE Controllers x2
– Vive BE Base Stations x2
– Vive BE 3-in-1 Cable
– Vive BE Face Cushions x4
So there’s not much new in the box. Those first four are all included with the original Vive, and there are two face cushions in that set too. Vive BE also includes a 12 month limited warranty and access to a dedicated customer support line. It’s that warranty that could be key, but it’s not clear how it differs over the original right now. Systems can also be bought in bulk. If it affords companies a little more room before making it void, it could be an attractive package.
The device is priced a fair bit higher than the $799 consumer model, though, coming in at $1,200. A more global rollout of the device is also expected in the coming weeks.
This is a shrewd move on HTC’s part. Businesses and brands have embraced VR much faster than we would have expected, and a full VR set specifically aimed at this market could go far to making the device much more profitable. Take Dassault Systèmes, for example, which used Vive to create a collaborative platform for businesses to create consumer experiences named 3DEXPERIENCE.
HTC is hoping to attract more of these type of clients with its new model. With rivals like Infinitus also stirring, this is going to be one area of the VR industry that’s hotly competed.
