Qualcomm and Telefonica partner on XR and metaverse projects

Appetite in extended reality (XR) – encompassing augmented and virtual reality – is increasing among users and investors alike. In 2016 the market was worth just $1bn, yet with XR predicted to reach $72.8bn by 2024, businesses are beginning to see the opportunities it has to offer.

Among those tapping into this technology are Telefonica and Qualcomm who have joined forces to strengthen their position as leaders in the future of XR and the metaverse.

“XR will bring a new dimension to the digital and real world, enabling people to communicate, do business, socialise and entertain themselves in new ways,” said Daniel Hernández, VP devices and consumer IoT of Telefónica. It “will redefine how we live, work and socialise,” added Dino Flore, vice president, Technology, Qualcomm Europe, Inc.

Together, the tech giants will work to grow Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform – a platform compatible with wearable AR/VR – and Telefónica’s fixed and mobile network infrastructure.

Qualcomm believes Snapdragon is the key to unlocking the “full potential” of wearable AR using industry-leading technology, cross-device SDK, and an open XR ecosystem, enabling developers to pioneer innovative experiences that will lead the next generation of immersive technology.

Hernández said the firms are preparing for the future of XR by “building the infrastructure, upskilling the teams, evolving our services and putting in place the partnerships which will enable us to bring innovative new devices and services to customers.”

Both companies are in the process of bringing Snapdragon to different initiatives that form part of the Telefonica Innovation and Talent Hub. They said this will help foster the development of new products and services on XR which will later be set for testing and eventually commercialised with Telefonica and its customers.

“At a crucial time in the technology’s development and roll-out, we are excited to be partnering with Telefonica to grow the active communities developing the ecosystems of the future through Snapdragon Spaces, which we believe will unlock the power of XR and take it to the next level,” Flore concluded.