HTC today announced a new edition of the Vive headset targeted specifically at businesses looking to get into room-scale experiences. Called simply ‘Vive Business Edition’ (Vive BE), HTC says that the new enterprise-focused presentation of the headset will include “additional services adapted for business and commercial environments.”
Vive BE isn’t a new physical styling of the headset, but rather an additional service delivered alongside the original SteamVR powered Vive system, which will include commercial licensing, 12-month limited warranty, and a dedicated Vive BE customer support line.
Unlike the consumer edition of the Vive, which is sold on a one-per-customer basis currently, HTC is guaranteeing multiple Vive systems so that businesses can outfit an entire company with the room-scale VR system. This comes hot on the heels of HTC’s latest news of the Vive coming to 100 retail locations throughout North America, and a complete catch-up of global online orders, now promised to arrive anywhere in the world within 72 hours of purchase.
New orders of the Oculus Rift are still backed up to an estimated shipping date of August.
Selling at $1,200 USD, $400 more than the consumer edition, Vive BE is launching in the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, and France this month, and is slated to arrive globally in the coming weeks.
Although we haven’t yet caught a glimpse of a Vive BE, the only apparent substantial physical difference we’ve been able to ascertain between the consumer and business edition is the addition of two extra face cushions. No mention was made if Vive BE will also include the same launch content bundle—Job Simulator, Fantastic Contraption and Tilt Brush—as per the consumer version.
The Vive BE System includes:
- Vive BE Headset
- Vive BE Controllers x2
- Vive BE Base Stations x2
- Vive BE 3-in- 1 Cable
- Vive BE Face Cushions x4
- Dedicated Vive Business Edition customer support line
- 12-month limited warranty (certain exclusions and limitations apply)