Qualcomm to Unveil 'XR Viewer' with 15 Global Telecom Operators

Introduction of XR Viewer Compatible with 5G Smartphones
15 Carriers Plan Commercialization of XR Viewer
Manufacturers like 3Glass and iQI Prepare for Certification

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Qualcomm is unveiling an XR (Extended Reality) viewer in collaboration with global mobile carriers. XR is a term encompassing VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality).

Qualcomm Technologies, a subsidiary of Qualcomm, announced on the 26th (local time) at the world's largest AR expo, AWE (Augmented World Expo) held in the United States, that it has prepared an event to introduce the 'XR Viewer' in cooperation with global carriers, smartphone manufacturers, and XR viewer manufacturers.

The XR viewer refers to a lightweight headset device that connects with 5G smartphones equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or 865 chipsets. Fifteen carriers, including SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, EE, KDDI, NTT Docomo, Orange, SoftBank, Telefonica, Verizon, and Vodafone, plan to commercialize the XR viewer.

Qualcomm explained, "By enabling high bandwidth and low latency essential for delivering XR experiences through 5G smartphone connectivity, it provides excellent immersion and opens the door to a new era. With the combination of XR and 5G, the world will connect, communicate, and change the way content is consumed, allowing consumers to enjoy their favorite smartphone applications as augmented reality (AR) right before their eyes."

To ensure a seamless user experience, Qualcomm tests the performance and verifies compatibility of XR viewers and smartphones through the 'Qualcomm XR Optimized Certification Program.' Two versions of the certification program are provided for smartphones and XR viewers so that manufacturers can guarantee compatibility with multiple smartphones and viewers without individual inspections.

XR viewer manufacturers such as 3Glasses, iQIYI, Nreal, OPPO, Panasonic, Pico, and Shadow Creator are undergoing the certification process to secure interoperability within a few months. Smartphone manufacturers aiming to provide new XR experiences through 5G-supported smartphones include ASUS, Black Shark, OnePlus, OPPO, Smartisan, Vivo, and ZTE.

Qualcomm stated, "With the global expansion of 5G communication, the XR ecosystem is ready to integrate robust cellular-based communication with high-quality hardware and premium XR devices. XR experiences can scale globally both inside and outside the home, and we expect everyone to experience a new reality next year."