Huawei will be one of the first phone makers to build a handset that works with Google’s new VR platform.
Richard Yu, the Director of Huawei, confirmed that the firm has plans to release a Google Daydream ready phone in autumn this year, speaking during an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Huawei had already pledged to support Daydream, but it wasn’t initially clear when that would happen.
The report reads:
“Huawei is pushing further into new technologies such as virtual reality. Based on its partnership with Alphabet Inc.’s Google, which provides a VR software platform, the company plans to release a new VR-compatible smartphone this fall.”
Google Daydream is a new virtual reality platform that offers manufacturers a range of software and reference designs to work with. Google revealed a virtual reality headset and controller at last month’s I/O developer conference, which companies can copy parts of for their own devices. There’s also a new Daydream software ecosystem that builds on the original Cardboard app, which hopes to compete with Facebook’s Oculus VR.
Part of the Daydream guidelines include building phones to a set of specifications provided by Google. These include making a phone with a powerful processor, a range of sensors, and a high-density screen. Huawei isn’t the only manufacture to pledge support, however. The following firms have also hopped on the Daydream bandwagon: Samsung, HTC, LG, Xiaomi, ZTE, Asus, and Alctatel.
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Yu continued:
“We want to be the number-one smartphone maker in the world. It’s a long-distance race, and we have the patience. Our growth is mainly coming from the high-end premium segment. If you want to be the leading vendor you have to lead in the high-end.”
To that end, Yu also confirmed that Huawei’s recent partnership with Leice – as debuted on the Huawei P9 – is an exclusive alliance that will continue for “at least” the next five years.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
