While virtual reality (VR) continues to make headway in the consumer market for applications ranging from immersive live experiences to next-generation video game play, the logical next step for the young technology is in commercial and industrial applications. Among them include applications in the engineering and manufacturing sector for creating everything from communication materials to immersive education curriculums.
To help businesses better employ VR technology in their commercial applications, HTC announced this week the Vive Business Edition (“Vive BE”) of its existing Vive VR system for individuals and organizations looking for an enterprise VR solution. It’s set to be released later this month.
The Business Edition will leverage the company’s existing network of commercial customers interested in VR applications within the engineering and manufacturing sector, including Dassault Systèmes, creator of the 3D EXPERIENCE platform. Among other reasons why the Vive VR system is popular in the commercial space is that it is the only end-to-end VR platform capable of delivering room-scale technology powered by NVIDIA Quadro GPUs.
Altogether, each Vive BE unit includes:
- The complete Vive BE system
o Vive BE headset
o Two Vive BE controllers
o Two Vive BE base stations
o Vive BE 3-in-1 cable
o Four Vive BE face cushions
- Dedicated Vive BE customer support line
- 12-month limited warranty (certain exclusions and limitations apply)
“VR has already proven its appeal among consumers and is now revealing its potential for enterprise,” said Olivier Ribet, vice president of high-tech industry at Dassault Systèmes. “Vive helps us provide our customers from all industries with premium VR experiences that offer unlimited perspectives to inspire product ideation and creation.”
In addition to the standard Vive VR system, the $1,200 Vive BE will include commercial licensing, a dedicated customer support line, a 12-month limited warranty and the option for businesses to buy large quantities at one time for teams or large groups.
The Vive BE will launch in five markets this month (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and France) before rolling out globally in the coming weeks. To request information about and order Vive BE, head over to the Vive website.