Jio is in talks to utilise Meta's VR software for a possible VR device

Meta is in talks to license its virtual reality (VR) software, Horizon, to Jio, the digital division of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). Jio intends to produce a VR gadget that will be powered by the VR software, according to sources cited by The Information. The discussions are a part of Meta's bigger initiatives to get more businesses to use Horizon OS and position it as the industry standard for VR, AR, and mixed reality devices.

However, the talks are still in preliminary stages and may not materialise.  The development comes at a time when Jio has been rapidly experimenting with augmented reality (AR) and VR products. In October last year, the company launched two devices – a VR headset called JioDive and smart glasses named JioGlass.

This came on the back of the conglomerate’s digital arm acquiring a majority stake in AR and VR hardware and software startup Tesseract in 2019. For the uninitiated, extended reality, the wide encompassing term for AR and VR, has use cases such as allowing teachers to demonstrate a concept using 3D projections and simulating 3D designs for engineering models. Additionally, it can also be used in healthcare and entertainment.

Meanwhile, the talks are emblematic of the growing partnership between Jio Platforms and Meta. It is pertinent to note that Meta acquired a 10% stake in Jio Platforms in 2020 for $5.7 Bn. Additionally, the two parties have also been embedding their respective offerings with each other’s products.