Big Relief For Google, Meta, And Apple As US Regulator Green-lights Mobile VR Devices

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission or FCC has given the nod to Google, part of Alphabet Inc. GOOG GOOGL, Apple Inc. AAPL, and Meta Platforms Inc. META for the distribution of their new mobile virtual and augmented reality devices.

What Happened: The FCC has authorized these tech firms to roll out their latest wearable tech and in-car services. The devices, including VR and AR goggles, are designed to operate on the same airwaves as Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets, reported Bloomberg. 

The FCC’s decision was unanimous, with a 5-0 vote. FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel remarked, “These are the airwaves where we can develop new wearable technologies,” adding, “These are the airwaves where the future happens.”

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These companies are working on augmented reality eyewear that could connect to smartphones with the 6 GHz band. The approval also permits the sharing of navigation data between smartphones and vehicles.

Kevin Martin, vice president of North America policy at Meta, applauded the FCC’s decision, stating, “We commend the FCC’s decision allowing companies like ours to use new wireless technologies to build the next wave of computing.”

Why It Matters: This development comes in the wake of Meta’s recent privacy concerns related to the recording capabilities of their Quest 3 headset. The device’s passthrough video feature, enabling users to interact with the real world while wearing the headset, had sparked a debate on integrating technology into daily life.

In addition, Meta and its competitors are investing heavily in VR headsets and smart glasses to transform digital interaction. Apple is currently preparing to launch its first mixed-reality headset, Vision Pro, in early 2024.

These regulatory approvals mark a significant step toward a future where wearable computers become commonplace.

Photo by Boumen Japet on Shutterstock

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