As the playing field of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) gets bigger and more inclusive and more companies look to it as a way of expanding their business strategy and influence it’s increasingly becoming a case of buy up, team up, or in some cases even shut down. Now two major players in tech have come to the conclusion that the middle path might just be best for all concerned.
Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi and Finnish multinational communications firm Nokia have each made ever more significant moves into the technology over the last year, with Nokia in particular being prominent. In the last couple of months alone VRFocus has covered stories about their latest software development kit release, a new healthier living scheme, their work with the medical field, its Storytellers programme for OZO, and live streams of AR and mixed reality (MR). Whilst Xiaomi, who have been rather bullish about the possibilities in the Chinese market have been busy with their Mi VR mobile head-mounted display (HMD) amongst other interests.
Now the pair have signed a new multi-year co-operation agreement that will see Nokia and Xiaomi working together and cross-licensing each others patents with regard to cellphones, network infrastructure and operations relating to the web and datacentres which the agreement mostly revolves around. However, as specifically pointed out in the release issued by Nokia earlier today, both AR, VR as well as artificial intelligence (A.I.) and other projects that fall under the ‘Internet of Things’.
“As a company seeking to deliver more exciting technological innovations to the world, we are excited at the opportunity to work more closely with Nokia in future.” Confirmed Xiaomi’s chairman and CEO Lei Jun in a statement. “Xiaomi is committed to building sustainable, long-term partnerships with global technology leaders. Our collaboration with Nokia will enable us to tap on its leadership in building large, high performance networks and formidable strength in software and services, as we seek to create even more remarkable products and services that deliver the best user experience to our Mi fans worldwide.”
Speaking on both companies work in the smartphone sector, President & CEO of Nokia commented that “Xiaomi is one of the world’s leading smartphone manufacturers and we are delighted to have reached an agreement with them. In addition to welcoming such a prominent global technology company to our family of patent licensees, we look forward to working together on a wide range of strategic projects.”
How this will agreement will affect such projects as Nokia’s OZO and the aforementioned Xiaomi Mi VR HMD remains to be seen, however VRFocus will be covering anything that happens.