Microsoft released its HoloLens augmented reality headsets to software developers back in March, and now it’s trying to drive them into the enterprise. The company has made a couple moves to this end.
First, it has now made it possible for anyone in the U.S. and Canada to buy up to five units of the HoloLens Development Edition—the first iteration of the holographic computer in the Microsoft Store. Previously, buyers had to go through an application process to say they were developers, before waiting for an invitation to purchase the device. They also had to be members of the Windows Insider program, which is a community that tests out early versions of Microsoft’s
Many people are looking forward to the gaming potential of the HoloLens “mixed-reality” headsets, which superimpose virtual-reality imagery over what the user sees in the real world. However, they are still not exactly consumer products. They cost $3,000 a pop, but for many businesses looking to pilot new use cases, that’s probably not so expensive.
It’s worth noting that apps built for HoloLens should in future run on a wide range of devices. Microsoft said in June that it was working with chipmakers and many device manufacturers to get them building products for the underlying “Windows Holographic” platform.
