Nokia To Launch Virtual Reality Device ‘Next Week’

Nokia could be the latest manufacturer to throw its hat into the ever-growing Virtual Reality (VR) market, according to reports.

Re/Code claims the Finnish manufacturer is reportedly planning to unveil its first VR product at a VIP event in Los Angeles next week.

The as-yet-unknown device will be made by Nokia Technologies, one of the units it retained following the sale of its mobile division to Microsoft abd the designer of the N1 tablet.

Immersive

The move would see Nokia follow in the steps of many of its former competitors in the mobile device market, who have jumped on board with the growing popularity of VR technology.

This includes HTC, Samsung, Google, and even Microsoft, whose HoloLens device is one of the company’s most hotly-anticipated new releases for years.

Nokia told TechWeekEurope it does not respond to media speculation.

The firm will be hoping to offer something different with its device, which may even be linked to the recent declaration from the company that it was planning a return to making smartphones sometime in the near future.

Under the terms of the deal that saw Microsoft purchase Nokia’s devices and services unit in 2013, the company has been unable to lend its name to any smartphone until late next year, and to any feature phone for another 10 years.

However with Microsoft preferring to use the ‘Lumia’ brand for its smart devices and widespread cuts in its mobile division, this could provide Nokia with an ideal opportunity.

The VR market has enjoyed somewhat of an upswing in recent months, as several major manufacturers capture public interest with new devices.

Most notably, Oculus announced earlier this month that the consumer-facing version of its Rift headset will go on sale early next year, featuring native support for Windows 10 and Xbox gaming.

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