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Microsoft Buys AltspaceVR, Launches Mixed Reality Headsets
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Microsoft Corporation (MSFT - Free Report) recently announced in a blog that it has acquired social virtual reality (VR) application provider AltspaceVR. The company also announced the availability of “Mixed Reality” headsets from partners – Samsung, Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo.
The acquisition is in sync with Microsoft’s mixed reality vision, which refers to the merging of virtual reality and real worlds. It is actually a combination of VR and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies.
While VR completely immerses the user in a virtual world, AR projects digital images into real-life scenes. Due to its fully-immersive nature, VR generally requires a headset to block out everything.
Per TechCrunch, the VR application allows headset as well as web platforms users to meet socially, through 3D chat rooms, to play games, watch videos and attend events.
The addition of AltspaceVR’s technology now boosts Microsoft’s capability to offer social applications on its mixed reality platform. This will eventually help the company in bringing the mixed reality technology mainstream much sooner.
Microsoft’s stock has gained 19.5% year to date, underperforming the 25% rally of the industry it belongs to.
Competition Intensifies in the AR/VR Space
According to market research firm IDC’s August report, quoted by Business Insider, total spending on AR/VR is expected to soar from $11.4 billion in 2017 to nearly $215 billion by 2021, achieving a CAGR of 113.2%. This has attracted technology giants like Facebook Inc , Apple Inc (AAPL - Free Report) and Alphabet Inc (GOOGL - Free Report) .
Currently, Facebook’s Oculus Rift and HTC’s Vive are the most notable VR headsets in the market. On the other hand, based on their smartphone devices, Apple and Google are the major proponents of the AR technology.
Amid stiff competition, Microsoft has been striving hard to gain recognition for its mixed reality platform. The company has been relying on partners like Samsung, Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo to provide it a push in the rapidly growing AR/VR market.
Microsoft-Samsung Partners to Launch VR Headsets
Samsung recently unveiled a device called the HMD Odyssey which is based on Microsoft’s mixed reality platform. The device costs $500 and will start shipping early next month.
HMD Odyssey will run on the new upgraded version of the Windows 10 operating system (OS) that supports both AR and VR technologies, which will be available from Oct 17.
Notably, the update is being considered as a major step to get mixed reality platform into the mainstream. It will reduce time and simplify the process required for setting up VR headsets.
HoloLens is Microsoft’s another noted mixed reality product, which is currently used by developers, NASA and the U.S. military, per reports. The company doesn’t expect the commercial version of HoloLens to be launched prior to 2020.
Earlier this month, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.
Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investor’s Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.
Image: Bigstock
Microsoft Buys AltspaceVR, Launches Mixed Reality Headsets
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT - Free Report) recently announced in a blog that it has acquired social virtual reality (VR) application provider AltspaceVR. The company also announced the availability of “Mixed Reality” headsets from partners – Samsung, Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo.
The acquisition is in sync with Microsoft’s mixed reality vision, which refers to the merging of virtual reality and real worlds. It is actually a combination of VR and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies.
While VR completely immerses the user in a virtual world, AR projects digital images into real-life scenes. Due to its fully-immersive nature, VR generally requires a headset to block out everything.
Per TechCrunch, the VR application allows headset as well as web platforms users to meet socially, through 3D chat rooms, to play games, watch videos and attend events.
The addition of AltspaceVR’s technology now boosts Microsoft’s capability to offer social applications on its mixed reality platform. This will eventually help the company in bringing the mixed reality technology mainstream much sooner.
Microsoft’s stock has gained 19.5% year to date, underperforming the 25% rally of the industry it belongs to.
Competition Intensifies in the AR/VR Space
According to market research firm IDC’s August report, quoted by Business Insider, total spending on AR/VR is expected to soar from $11.4 billion in 2017 to nearly $215 billion by 2021, achieving a CAGR of 113.2%. This has attracted technology giants like Facebook Inc , Apple Inc (AAPL - Free Report) and Alphabet Inc (GOOGL - Free Report) .
Currently, Facebook’s Oculus Rift and HTC’s Vive are the most notable VR headsets in the market. On the other hand, based on their smartphone devices, Apple and Google are the major proponents of the AR technology.
Amid stiff competition, Microsoft has been striving hard to gain recognition for its mixed reality platform. The company has been relying on partners like Samsung, Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo to provide it a push in the rapidly growing AR/VR market.
Microsoft-Samsung Partners to Launch VR Headsets
Samsung recently unveiled a device called the HMD Odyssey which is based on Microsoft’s mixed reality platform. The device costs $500 and will start shipping early next month.
HMD Odyssey will run on the new upgraded version of the Windows 10 operating system (OS) that supports both AR and VR technologies, which will be available from Oct 17.
Notably, the update is being considered as a major step to get mixed reality platform into the mainstream. It will reduce time and simplify the process required for setting up VR headsets.
HoloLens is Microsoft’s another noted mixed reality product, which is currently used by developers, NASA and the U.S. military, per reports. The company doesn’t expect the commercial version of HoloLens to be launched prior to 2020.
Currently, Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio?
Earlier this month, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others.
Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investor’s Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away.
Download the new report now>>