Orange announced recently that it will be testing the VR(virtual reality) technology with an experimental OCS(Orange Cinema Services) VR channel.
Orange OCS subscribers equipped with a virtual reality headset will be able to enjoy their favorite movies and TV shows in a fully immersive environment through OCS VR. OCS VR will be available to OCS subscribers on Samsung’s Gear VR from 12th of October and on Sony’s PlayStation VR from the end of October.
According to Orange, the service will initially enable OCS subscribers to view the group’s entire catalogue of premium video content in an immersive VR environment designed to look like a private theater.
In addition, from 1st of December, Orange will launch Orange VR Experience. For that, Orange has signed a partnership with VR startup, Wevr which the Operator is a shareholder alongside HTC and Samsung. With the new Orange VR Experience, Orange will be testing distribution of native VR content via partnerships with Twentieth Century Fox Innovation Lab, Warner Bros., Felix & Paul Studios, Apelab, InnerspaceVR, Okio studio and Wevr studio. The pilot program will run in France for a period of six months and will be extended later to other European countries.
Lacroix, SVP Partnerships and Services TV & Video at Orange’s Content Division
At Orange, we see virtual reality as a new medium that’s still in its infancy: everything from the software and technology, to the development of new uses and the development of a business model is still a work in progress.
Georges Nahon, CEO of Orange Silicon Valley in San Francisco
At Orange Silicon Valley, we are strong believers in the potential of VR. We’ve identified Wevr early on as a pioneer and leader in the field of high-quality virtual reality content production and distribution. Orange has been helping the company’s development especially around "Transport", Wevr’s distribution network for virtual reality content.
