HTC reveals Vive Business Edition to kick-start enterprise use of VR

Vive Business Edition could lay the foundations for an immersive VR ecosystem

HTC has revealed the Vive Business Edition in a move to bring its virtual reality (VR) technology into the enterprise.

VR is very much in its infancy in the consumer and enterprise markets, but it has plenty of potential to augment and evolve the way companies deliver services and promote products.

Vive Business Edition includes the Vive headset, two motion controllers, two base stations, a 3-in-1 cable and four face cushions. The kit comes with a 12-month warranty, and HTC has set up a dedicated business customer support line.

This should be more than enough to help a business get to grips with the HTC technology co-created with gaming firm Valve. Companies hungry for more Vive kits have the option to bulk order them.

The Business Edition also appears to be suitable for startups and smaller businesses looking to tinker with VR and have the support of a major company if they get stuck with their development and experimentation.

Daniel O'Brien, vice president of VR at HTC, explained that the Business Edition is a way to get more people working with the Vive and to create a VR ecosystem around it.

"With Vive Business Edition we are answering the overwhelming demand from global industries for a complete VR experience to provide innovative [products and services] for their business needs," he said.

"Expediting the growth of partner organisations through the application of Vive technology is an incredibly important part of our VR strategy, and will ensure that the Vive continues to be at the forefront of the enterprise sector."

The Vive has sold well as a consumer product, and an increasing number of smaller companies have shown curiosity in the technology, but there is little demand from corporate enterprises.

However, the appeal could expand if HTC can encourage more companies to make software for the Vive and find more uses for it beyond gaming, something that it is arguably lacking so far.