Smartphone manufacturers can now bring new experiences with XR ecosystem support for Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 mobile processor. The XR viewer, announced at the MWC 2019, enables operators and platform providers to deliver the next generation of mobile immersive computing experiences in 5G smartphones.
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The new XR (extended reality) viewer model tethers a headset to a Snapdragon 855-powered phone over USB-C. Several manufacturers are developing XR headsets designed to work with Snapdragon 855 phones. XR is the next generation of immersive mobile compute and with the significant benefits that 5G affords like high data rates and low latency, XR viewers can be optimized and commercial-ready for the mobile industry in 2019, said Qualcomm in a press release.
“Our HMD Accelerator Program has been a critical catalyst for ecosystem partners ranging from component suppliers and ODMs, to bring quality standalone XR headsets to consumers,” said Hugo Swart, senior director, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Building upon the momentum of this program, we will extend it to XR viewers and compatible smartphones, starting with smartphones enabled by the Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform. In collaboration with ecosystem stakeholders, we are working towards the common goal of transforming how the world connects and communicates by offering premium, immersive experiences over 5G.”
With major smartphone brands including, OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi and BlackShark aiming to commercialize Snapdragon 855 smartphones in 2019, the XR viewer initiative can expand the range of offerings to bring innovative content and a greater set of services to consumers.
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In addition to telecom operators, XR viewers and smartphones manufacturers, platform and content providers will be critical in driving immersive content and applications over 5G. Platforms like the HTC-developed VIVE Wave, allow for seamless cross-platform access and high-performance development to deliver extraordinary content. Other platform providers and application developers like Arvizio, NetEase-AR, Iconic Engine, NextVR, SenseTime and Wikitude also are ready to support the initiative, and some of them will be demonstrating at MWC.
