Vodafone to launch Nreal light glasses bringing augmented and mixed reality to consumers and businesses across Europe

Vodafone will offer the Nreal Light glasses to consumers and businesses in its European markets, delivering Augmented and Mixed Reality experiences through Vodafone’s high-speed, ultra-low latency Gigabit 5G network. Nreal Light will launch first in Germany and Spain during Spring 2021, with other Vodafone markets to follow.

Nreal Light are cutting edge, lightweight and comfortable mixed reality glasses that sport an industry-leading widescreen, equivalent to viewing a portable IMAX screen. Nreal Light glasses are designed to be worn daily. Via a wired USB-C connection, they tap into the power of a modern Android phone, which aids in processing and running control functions.

Phil Patel, Vodafone Group Director Products & Services said: “Nreal Light is a breakthrough product and we are excited to announce that Vodafone is bringing Nreal’s cutting-edge glasses to Europe. Nreal Light combined with Vodafone’s high speed, ultra-low latency Gigabit 5G network will give consumers and businesses an affordable, accessible way of experiencing the latest augmented and mixed reality experiences and brings the future a little closer for everyone.”

Nreal CEO Chi Xu said: “European consumers will be able to experience the future through Nreal Light. They’ll enjoy a new way to see and interact with their favourite apps in a 3D mixed reality environment on Vodafone's 5G network. We're excited to be making Nreal Light available in Germany, Spain and other European countries in partnership with Vodafone as we continue our mission to make Mixed Reality accessible to consumers around the world.”

Enrico Salvatori, senior vice president and president, Qualcomm EMEA, QUALCOMM Europe, Inc. added: “We have long believed that XR and 5G are a perfect technology pair and we congratulate Vodafone and Nreal on this incredible milestone. Smartphones powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 5G mobile platforms have both the processing power and ultra-fast, low latency 5G connectivity to deliver amazing, immersive XR experiences. Combining Qualcomm Technologies’ leading solutions with Vodafone’s 5G network and the Nreal Light glasses as accessories to smartphones will take the mobile XR experiences for both consumers and enterprises into a new, immersive dimension.”

Nreal Light are the first consumer smart glasses to offer an affordable, high-quality Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) experience with a sophisticated understanding of the surrounding environment, including six degrees of freedom tracking, plane detection and image tracking.

AR experienced through Nreal Light overlays digital applications on the visual equivalent of a large transparent screen, while allowing users to see, move and interact with their surroundings easily. MR applications take this one step further, overlaying sophisticated digital content on top of the visible environment, seamlessly blending real world and digital content whilst enabling the user to interact with virtual 3D objects.

Nreal Light is compatible with most existing Android smartphone applications, bringing an AR experience to many familiar apps. When connected via a compatible Android handset, users can use Nreal Light glasses to browse the web or shop, watch video, TV and sport, enjoy AAA gaming experiences or catch up on social media – all in augmented reality on a large ‘virtual’ screen, while multitasking up to three applications simultaneously.

Vodafone and Nreal collaborate to develop new AR and MR applications

Vodafone and Nreal are collaborating on the development of immersive AR and MR applications for consumers and businesses, combining Nreal’s leading technology with the high speed of Vodafone’s Gigabit 5G network.

Consumer MR applications that are in the works include sports apps that overlay stats and graphics during live games, advanced multiplayer games blending live and virtual environments in real-time, navigation and tour guides, fitness coaching, interior design and interactive, immersive education.

Vodafone is developing a range of practical commercial AR and MR applications for business. These range from more immersive conference calling to remote collaboration on design, engineering, manufacturing and assembly processes. Retail, product training, virtual showrooms and remote technical support can be enabled through MR.

The collaboration between Nreal and Vodafone follows the availability the Nreal Light Developer Kit, enabling developers to build their own MR applications for mass consumers.

Notes for Editors

Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

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About Vodafone

Vodafone is a leading telecommunications company in Europe and Africa. Our purpose is to "connect for a better future" and our expertise and scale gives us a unique opportunity to drive positive change for society. Our networks keep family, friends, businesses and governments connected and - as COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated - we play a vital role in keeping economies running and the functioning of critical sectors like education and healthcare.

Vodafone is the largest mobile and fixed network operator in Europe and a leading global IoT connectivity provider. Our M-Pesa technology platform in Africa enables over 45m people to benefit from access to mobile payments and financial services. We operate mobile and fixed networks in 21 countries and partner with mobile networks in 48 more. As of 30 September 2020, we had over 300m mobile customers, more than 27m fixed broadband customers, over 22m TV customers and we connected more than 112m IoT devices.

We support diversity and inclusion through our maternity and parental leave policies, empowering women through connectivity and improving access to education and digital skills for women, girls, and society at large. We are respectful of all individuals, irrespective of race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, belief, culture or religion.

Vodafone is also taking significant steps to reduce our impact on our planet by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025, purchasing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and reusing, reselling or recycling 100% of our redundant network equipment.

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com, follow us on Twitter at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.

About Nreal

Nreal is a fast-growing mixed reality company ushering the next generation of user interactions with hardware and software solutions that merge the physical with the digital world. Nreal innovated mixed reality experiences with its Nreal Light product, accompanied by Nreal's self- developed 3D system Nebula. Fueled by a mission to make MR accessible for everyone, encompassing both consumers and enterprise customers, Nreal's products include the Nreal Light Developer Kit, Nreal Light Enterprise Edition and the Nreal Light Consumer Kit. Nreal is supported by global partnerships with the world’s leading 5G companies worldwide and is available for demos at your favorite world class 5G network retail stores.