HTC Vive reportedly enters Saudi Arabian market

Staff writer with CNA





Taiwan-based smartphone brand HTC Corp (宏達電) has extended its global reach in virtual reality (VR) development by launching the HTC Vive, the company’s first VR headset, in the Saudi Arabian market, tech Web site Telecompaper said on Monday.

Telecompaper reported that HTC has teamed up with Saudi Arabian bookstore chain Jarir Bookstore to launch an online pre-order sales campaign there ahead of a commercial launch.

Under the partnership, Jarir Bookstore is to serve as the exclusive distributor of the HTC Vive in the Saudi market, the report said, and the HTC Vive is to be demonstrated in outlets of the bookstore chain in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, where customers will be able to personally experience the immersive experience provided by the device.

The HTC Vive is one of HTC’s gambits to diversify away from its core smartphone market, which is saturated and intensely competitive, and create an additional revenue stream to turn its business around.

The VR headset, jointly developed by HTC and US video game supplier Valve, was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress show in March last year.

Released globally in April, it is equipped with tracked controllers that allow wearers to inspect objects from every angle and interact with their surroundings.

HTC is marketing the HTC Vive around the world, focusing specifically on major consumer electronics markets such as the US, China, the UK, Germany, Australia, Japan and of Taiwan.

While HTC has remained tight-lipped about HTC Vive sales, the smartphone brand said the device has received a warm reception in the global market.

At an investors’ conference held last week, HTC said that after building a presence in developed markets, it is looking to enter emerging markets such as India and Russia.

On Saturday, HTC announced the launch of a new app store — the Viveport — for its HTC Vive headset to provide users with a wider range of content.