HTC has their eye set on the VR enterprise sector.
Since the HTC Vive hit the market earlier this year, we have been giving demos of the system to anyone willing to try, blowing minds daily and giving consumers their first taste of room-scale virtual reality. More often than not, the conversation during demos immediately turns to how they can use the Vive for their business. There was no easy place to start in getting a business setup with a Vive or providing help with trouble shooting and support.
Now, HTC hopes to provide a solution for businesses, announcing a new “Business Edition” Vive to capture the demand from industries worldwide to employ virtual reality technology in commercial applications.
Vive demos at GameStop.
The HTC Vive Business Edition (BE) will be available starting this month and allow individuals and organizations to order Vive VR systems with additional services adapted for business and commercial environments. In addition to the full Vive VR system, Vive BE comes with commercial licensing, a dedicated Business Edition customer support line and a 12-month limited warranty. Businesses will also be able to buy multiple Vive BE systems, with the option to order large quantities. Consumer version ordering was limited to one order per customer.
“With Vive BE, we are answering the overwhelming demand from global industries for a complete VR experience, to provide innovative solutions for their business needs,” said Daniel O’Brien, VP of VR at HTC. “Expediting the growth of partner organizations through application of Vive technology is an incredibly important part of our ongoing VR strategy, and will ensure Vive continues to be at the forefront of the enterprise sector.”
HTC Vive tents at X Games.
The Vive BE will launch in 5 markets (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany & France) and will be rolling out globally in the coming weeks. The total price: $1,200.
Features of Vive BE include:
- Complete Vive BE System
- Vive BE Headset
- Vive BE Controllers x2
- Vive BE Base Stations x2
- Vive BE 3-in-1 Cable
- Vive BE Face Cushions x4
- Dedicated Vive Business Edition customer support line
- 12-month limited warranty (certain exclusions and limitations apply)
The announcement of Vive BE builds on HTC’s existing network of commercial partners, spanning a wide range of industries from Automotive to Medical to Design. Among these partners include Dassault Systèmes, who developed the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as a collaborative virtual environment for businesses to create differentiating customer experiences.
Conference attendee trying Dassault Systèmes Vive demo.
It would seem that HTC now has their manufacturing of Vive headsets optimized, announcing on Tuesday that they will be shipping consumer Vive orders out in 72 hours, meaning they are now ready to support larger quantity orders for enterprise.
