Damir Khabirov
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) said on Monday that it will start licensing the operating system for its Quest headsets to other device makers, firmly positioning itself as a more open alternative to Apple’s (AAPL) Vision Pro.
In a video posted on Meta (META) boss Mark Zuckerberg’s Instagram account, he noted the difference between Apple’s (AAPL) closed model for smartphones and the open model for PCs.
The social media platform said hardware makers like Asus (OTCPK:ASUUY) and Lenovo (OTCPK:LNVGY) will make devices that run Meta Horizon OS. The company is also working on a limited-run gaming-focused Quest headset with Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox.
Asus’ (OTCPK:ASUUY) Republic of Gamers will develop a gaming headset and Lenovo (OTCPK:LNVGY) will build mixed reality devices for productivity, learning, and entertainment. Zuckerberg added that it may take a few years for the devices to launch.
Meta (META) will also push for more ways to discover alternative app stores on Horizon OS. It will make its experimental App Lab store more prominent and even invited Alphabet’s (GOOG) (GOOGL) Google to bring its Play Store to Horizon OS.
Virtual reality and mixed reality headsets have so far found only limited success, mostly from the gaming community. Apple (AAPL) entered the market in February with the launch of its $3,499 Vision Pro headset.
Microsoft (MSFT) too, though unsuccessfully, once tried to pitch Windows as an operating system for VR headsets through its Windows Mixed Reality initiative.
