Mega deal in sight? Meta is probably negotiating with Jio about licensing the VR operating system Horizon OS for a possible new VR headset.
According to media reports, Meta is in talks with the Indian technology company Jio about a possible license for its XR operating system Horizon OS.
There are no further details about the project. Meta has so far declined to comment on the report, while Jio did not respond to requests for comment. Whether the talks will lead to a result remains to be seen.
According to The Information, three people familiar with the matter have stated that the negotiations revolve around the provision of Meta’s Horizon software for a new VR headset that Jio would develop.
Meta opens VR ecosystem to third-party hardware manufacturers
Meta recently announced that it is opening up the Meta Quest operating system to hardware manufacturers and licensing it under the name Meta Horizon OS. The first hardware partners are Asus and Lenovo, who plan to develop headsets with a gaming or productivity focus. Xbox, on the other hand, is working on a limited edition of the Meta Quest 3, while the VR headset resulting from a partnership between Meta and LG announced in February is said to have been canceled.
Head of technology Andrew Bosworth explained in a Q&A on Instagram that headset makers can focus on a specific combination of features, such as fitness, productivity, or gaming. They should be a good complement to the Meta Quest, which is positioned as an all-in-one product. All applications from the Meta Quest store should run on headsets with Meta Horizon OS, Bosworth said.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly emphasized that, unlike Apple, which is developing a closed XR operating system with visionOS, he is aiming for an “open model” along the lines of Windows and Android. Meta sees this as an important selling point for its platform.
By licensing Meta Horizon OS to Jio, Meta could expand its reach in the Asian market and establish itself as the leading platform in the XR segment. Jio is the largest mobile brand in India and is part of the retail and entertainment conglomerate Reliance Industries. The company’s previous releases include the affordable JioDive smartphone VR headset.
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