Microsoft HoloLens 'mixed reality' headset launching in Europe, Australia and New Zealand

[XAMI]

Microsoft is pushing its mixed reality HoloLens headset into several new markets, with pre-orders now live in Ireland, France, Germany and the UK, as well as Australia and New Zealand. This isn’t the consumer-oriented release just yet, instead it’s aimed at Windows 10 developers and business users who want early access to the platform.

Back in march Microsoft made HoloLens available to select business customers and developers in the US, who were developing showcase apps, with a wider rollout in August. The latest preorders are for the HoloLens Development Edition ($3,000 or AU$4,369 / £2,719 / €3,299) and HoloLens Commercial Suite ($5,000 or AU$7,269 / £4,529).

Microsoft is planning to add Windows Holographic support to Windows 10 PCs running "Redstone 2," the next major update to Windows 10 coming in the Spring of 2017.

While the technology is still in the early stages of development, Microsoft plans to vault itself into the market by opening up the platform third parties with the goal enabling devices that can run both AR and VR "mixed reality" and eventually bring prices down.

The list of partners include Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, HTC, Acer, ASUS, CyberPowerPC, Dell, Falcon Northwest, HP, iBuyPower, Lenovo, and MSI.