Samsung-Facebook Cooperation
The world’s largest SNS provider Facebook ordered 8000 “Gear VR” units from Samsung Electronics. The order is interpreted as Facebook’s will to give a boost to the distribution of VR along with Samsung Electronics, its hardware partners. Facebook is one of aggressive investors in VR and the owner of Oculus, the VR frontrunner.
“Recently Facebook gave an order of 8000 Gear VR units to Samsung North America,” said a representative at the electronics industry.
“Facebook will give 3000 units to developers and 5000 to employees. This means Facebook’s VR service and contents will be developed based on the Samsung Gear VR,” he continued. “This will spark off the popularity and sales of the VR headset. This product sells for 129,800 won in Korea. Thus, the order tops about one billion won.
Since taking over Oculus, a VR solution provider in 2014, Facebook has concentrated on the development of VR contents. During this process, Samsung pulled together as a hardware partner.
The Gear VR was a result of their co-development. This connection brought Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, to the stage for a presentation on the Galaxy S7, the latest smartphone of Samsung Electronics at the 2106 MWC. “VR is the most social platform and next-generation gadget,” Zuckerberg said in the event. “We will further develop VR in concert with Samsung Electronics”
“In the past, experiences were shared by way of texts and photos,” he said. “But now is an era of videos. Going beyond games and entertainment, VR has become the most social tool through which people share experiences.” Zuckerberg explained that the partnership between Samsung and Oculus will offer over 200 games and applications, stressing its usefulness in Facebook services.
“VR will change the way people work and communicate,” the Facebook CEO said. “VR will be sued for personal movie watching, group meetings and events.”