Jio in talks with Meta to disrupt India's VR market
Reliance Industries's digital subsidiary, Jio, is reportedly negotiating with Meta to acquire a license for its virtual reality (VR) software, Horizon. As per The Information, this software could potentially power a future VR device from Jio as it aims to become a player in the burgeoning metaverse market. However, these discussions are still in their initial phase and may not necessarily lead to an agreement.
Meta's push for Horizon OS adoption
Meta's negotiation with Jio is part of a larger strategy to promote the use of Horizon OS among more firms. The social media giant aims to position it as a leading platform for VR, augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality devices. This aligns with Jio's ongoing exploration into AR and VR products, further strengthening their potential collaboration.
Jio's previous ventures into AR and VR
In October 2023, Jio introduced two devices: a VR headset named JioDive and smart glasses called JioGlass. This move followed the acquisition of a majority stake in Tesseract, an AR and VR hardware and software startup, by Reliance's digital arm in 2019. The potential use of Horizon OS in future products indicates Jio's continued interest in this technology sector.
Extended reality's diverse applications
Extended reality or mixed reality, which combines real and virtual environments using computer technology, has a wide range of uses. These include assisting teachers in demonstrating concepts using 3D projections, simulating 3D designs for engineering models, and applications in healthcare and entertainment sectors. The potential integration of Meta's Horizon OS into Jio's future products could further expand these applications.
Meta and Jio's growing partnership
The ongoing talks between Meta and Jio signify an expanding alliance between the two companies. In 2020, Meta purchased a 10% stake in Jio Platforms for $5.7 billion (₹43,574 crore). Additionally, both parties have been integrating their respective services with each other's products, such as enabling users of JioMart to place orders via Meta's WhatsApp platform.
