HP Partner in the Spotlight: Unbound VR

The Partner in the Spotlight section is designed to introduce you to collega-HP partners. In this episode, we talk with Remco de Jong, Managing Director of HP Business Partner Unbound VR.

Unbound VR positions itself in the market as the ultimate one-stop-shop in the field of VR/AR/MR, or XR immersive technologies. The company offers a comprehensive and up-to-date range of hardware, peripherals, accessories, and related services. A dedicated technical team provides on-site advice, complete installations and maintenance, and troubleshooting services. The focus on VR was a deliberate choice, according to Remco de Jong. "The Dutch landscape of IT-hardwareleveranciers is very crowded. If you start doing what everyone else is doing, you quickly have little to add. That's why we chose this niche. When we started in 2017, there were very few who believed in VR. From my background in software development, I became interested in VR because, like software development, VR offers unlimited possibilities for the user. With that mindset, we also started working with VR."

From my background in software development, I have always believed that anything is possible

Unbound VR originally started as a hardware supplier but has since also strongly focused on consultancy. "VR is not a given like a mobile phone. Many companies are still exploring the extent to which they can use it. They can use some help determining how VR fits into their IT-landschap: how to implement it, manage it, and train people in its use. In the last two years, especially in the entertainment sector, many companies have emerged that use VR, for example, for virtual escape rooms. It’s not just a matter of setting up a VR-bril; such a space must also be properly equipped. We can completely take care of that for a client."

What Remco particularly enjoys about the VR-branche is that he automatically deals with customers who are innovatively active. "A company like KLM is now, for instance, looking at VR as an alternative to the very expensive simulators in which pilots need to maintain their skills. If you can create the same cockpit experience at home on the sofa, it means a huge cost saving. The great thing about such a VR-oplossing is that you can also make the users' experiences measurable. This gives training an extra added value. KLM might start rolling this out for all pilots as early as mid-2021."

For me, the HP Reverb G2 is the VR-product for 2021

The relationship between Unbound VR and HP dates back to 2018. "At that time, we were getting more and more requests for a wireless mobile VR-ervaring. HP offered a pc-backpack that could create such an experience. With our strict specialisation, we were a bit of an oddity to HP at first. However, they saw us as an attractive partner, especially for the HP Reverb G2 headset, which was recently introduced to the market. Based on the reviews and our own experience, the Reverb G2 is currently by far the best in this price segment. Because it’s connected to the computer, you are assured of higher image quality than with a stand-alone headset. Essentially, HP is disrupting the entire market with this single product. Resolution, ease of use, wearing comfort, audio, video, and especially the price: everything is top-notch. The forums are very enthusiastic as well, thanks to HP's clever market positioning. In addition, a desktop product from one of the competitors is soon to be phased out, bringing in their entire target audience. To me, the HP Reverb G2 is the VR-product for 2021.

Remco speaks highly of the collaboration with HP. "HP appreciates our specific knowledge and focus. HP-klanten who have a question about VR or are looking for a concrete solution are referred to us. For us, the partnership with HP also means that we stay very close to the information and are actively kept in the loop. This is especially valuable during a product introduction because it means we can keep our customers well informed in turn. We also find each other very well in other areas. For instance, we are now working together on the Onero-X-project. This is a mobile VR-oplossing; a portable flight case with four VR-headsets and an HP brain. This solution will soon be used for training by fire brigades, police, and security services in Europe and beyond. An extremely important product, therefore. The challenge is that we have to build something together that is robust and compact enough for a flight case. With HP's development team and product specialists, we look at which products are suitable for this. HP's people are very cooperative and go a long way in this regard. Exactly what we need to develop such a new and high-quality product."