HIGHLIGHTS
- HTC's latest phone is described as a "high-end" gadget.
- At the MWC, the Taiwanese startup displayed its virtual reality experiences.
- HTC previously integrated its smartphone and VR operations.
HTC is preparing to unveil a'metaverse' phone in April, according to a company official who spoke at MWC 2022 in Barcelona. The new HTC phone is billed as a "high-end smartphone" from the Taiwanese manufacturer. HTC, formerly known for its Android phones, has shifted its focus to producing virtual reality (VR) experiences on the Vive platform. At this year's MWC, the business introduced its Viverse brand, which would comprise VR headsets as well as additional VR and augmented reality (AR) goods.
According to DigiTimes, HTC Asia-Pacific General Manager confirmed the introduction of the HTC metaverse phone at the MWC, as noticed by WinFuture.de. According to reports, the phone is aimed at clients who wish to use VR and AR apps.
The HTC phone is likewise rumoured to be a high-end device, though particular specifications have not yet been published. However, the company's subsequent offerings have been confined to minimal hardware.
This is not the first time HTC has jumped on the bandwagon of a new technology in order to achieve traction in the smartphone industry. In 2018, the New Taipei-based manufacturer aimed to appeal to Blockchain supporters by releasing the HTC Exodus 1. In 2019, it has added the Exodus 1s to its repertoire. However, neither model was popular with the general public.
HTC also demonstrated its latest advances in 5G, in-car VR experiences, and location-based entertainment at MWC 2022 this week. Viverse was also unveiled as the company's new brand for VR experiences, and products such as the VR-based Vive Browser, Vive Connect for simulated experiences, and Vive Guardian VR tool for parents, guardians, and instructors were released.
"Viverse provides seamless experiences that are accessible on any device, anywhere, and is enabled by the virtual and augmented reality, high-speed connectivity, AI, and blockchain technologies that HTC has invested in for several years," said Cher Wang, Co-Founder and Chairwoman of HTC, in a prepared statement.
HTC sold a substantial portion of its smartphone operations to Google for $1.1 billion in 2017. (roughly Rs. 8,300 crore). It also consolidated its smartphone and virtual reality businesses to simplify operations. However, the corporation stated in 2018 that it has no plans to abandon the smartphone industry.
