Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Nokia became the first company to manufacture a mobile phone with an operating system. They continued to innovate the mobile world for a decade before the iPhone came along in 2007 and disrupted the entire smartphone market.
Nokia is now back, and while they’re back in the smartphone business, the higher-ups think they’ll have to make some big changes in the near future.
They’re putting their money on the Metaverse.
Nokia Predicts the Fall of the Smartphone
Nokia has laid out its vision for the Metaverse – a virtual world powered by VR and AR devices. The Finnish company believes that phones will become obsolete as a result, as people will increasingly turn to wearable devices for their access to the internet.
The mobile technology leader also predicts that there will be a rise in interest in such devices as they provide a more immersive experience than traditional phone screens. However, widespread adoption of the Metaverse will only be possible if various factors align among corporations and consumers.
How the Metaverse Will Be Powered by VR and AR Devices
To bring the Metaverse to life, we will need advanced VR- and AR-enabled devices. These devices will provide users with an immersive, far more engaging experience than traditional phone screens.
However, the price of these tools has been increasing. Meta increased the base price of its headset to $400 just a few months ago. Even more recently, they introduced Quest Pro VR, which comes with a price tag of $1,500.
Admittedly, these prices are only somewhat affordable for the average consumer. That makes them less attractive and, as a result, a harder sell.
And there are other obstacles in the way of the Metaverse. Internet speed, battery life, and computing power are also issues that need to be addressed.
What Will Drive Adoption of the Metaverse
Nokia also believes there will be a rise in interest in such devices as they provide a more realistic and engaging experience than the current phone screens.
However, for the Metaverse to take off, various factors must align among corporations and consumers. Some of these factors include:
- The development of 5G networks that can support high-bandwidth applications;
- The proliferation of affordable VR and AR devices;
- Creating compelling content can take advantage of the immersive capabilities of these new technologies;
- Widespread awareness of the Metaverse and its potential among both corporations and consumers;
- The development of standards and protocols for interoperability between different VR and AR devices.
Will Nokia’s Vision Come to Fruition?
Nokia’s view of the Metaverse is ambitious, but it is not without merit. Suppose various factors align among both corporations and consumers alike. In that case, it is possible that we could see a future where phones are no longer our primary access point to the internet.
Instead, we would use VR and AR devices to interact with a virtual world far more immersive than anything we have experienced before. However, only time will tell if this vision comes to fruition.
