In 2017, Google acquired part of HTC's mobile phone business team for US$1.1 billion. A similar transaction occurred yesterday. HTC held a press conference stating that HTC and Google signed an XR agreement, and Google would pay US$250 Million with a transaction price of US$100 million. In addition, some HTC XR R&D team members will join Google, and HTC’s XR intellectual property non-exclusive license (IP) will be granted to Google for use.

HTC believes that this agreement will further strengthen HTC’s strategy for sustainable development in the XR ecosystem, build the VIVE brand, achieve a more streamlined product portfolio, and focus on long-term planning and development of future platforms, higher operational efficiency, and financial flexibility. HTC will continue to invest in the development of future technology products such as VIVE XR all-round solutions, such as VIVE Focus Vision products. At the same time, HTC will continue to build a virtual reality ecosystem, expand the VIVE territory, continue to invest in the innovation and opportunities brought by artificial intelligence and the metaverse, and unremittingly move towards the VIVERSE vision in a rapidly changing global economic environment.

Last year, Google, Qualcomm, and Samsung jointly announced that they would work together to launch Android XR, and predicted that a new head-mounted display device would be launched within this year (01 and 02).

HTC also pointed out that this agreement will help Google realize the promise of the Android XR platform, accelerate the development of head-mounted devices and glasses ecosystem, and bring more help to promote the XR industry. After technical team members with innovative R&D capabilities in the field of XR are transferred to Google, this agreement also realizes one of Google's major investments in establishing an innovation and technology base in Taiwan.

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