HTC Vive
A pair of HTC's Vive Virtual Reality (VR) goggles, is seen during annual Computex computer exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan June 1, 2016. Reuters/Tyrone Siu

If latest reports are to be believed, HTC is currently working on a mobile-based VR headset. Many believe this is the HTC Vive 2 though sources said that it is a mobile device. This has fuelled speculation that HTC is hitting the market big time and will compete against Google Daydream View and Samsung VR. The HTC device will reportedly be based around pairing with a mobile phone. In fact, HTC’s Chief Financial Officer, Chia-lin Chang, has also indicated that the company developing a new VR device and that HTC is a VR company.

According to a recent report on CNET, HTC will launch a mobile VR device as a follow-up to Vive, and it’s not a phone slapped onto a handset. HTC Vive 2 or not, the device will be compatible with the company’s new flagship phone HTC U Ultra and won’t be a simple headset like Samsung Gear VR. The HTC Vive requires a powerful PC to run whereas Gear VR and Google Daydream View work by plugging phone to a cheap headpiece. The upcoming Vive follow-up could act as a bridge between these two types.

HTC Vive is reportedly the most-successful VR headset up to now with respect to PC-based devices. It has an exhaustive roster of software. It also has a close connection with the Steam store. Even though PC-based VR headsets such as HTC Vive have loads of software and are extremely powerful in terms of hardware, they still are a niche market. Sensing an opportunity, players such as Google stepped in to make VR headsets for the mass market. Google Daydream ecosystem is constantly growing. HTC Vive 2 needs to keep this in mind, writes Know Your Mobile.

“We have learned much from our entrance into the world of virtual reality, and we believe our focused approach to building the ecosystem is the right strategy to enable the whole industry to expand through the creation of compelling content and rich experiences,” Chia-lin Chang said in an interview at the HTC U series launch event in Singapore.

HTC Vive 2 or simply a mobile version of Vive, the company has promised its fans “a different thing.” HTC’s mobile phone business is not running well and the company is suffering losses. Hence, HTC wants to capture the VR market by giving consumers a more affordable option. Stay tuned on IBT AU for more updates on HTC Vive, Vive 2 and mobile VR.

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