GamingTimess.blogspot.com: Australian Airline

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Qantas announces partnership with Samsung to bring Gear VR headsets to first-class fliers.</h2>
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by <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/profile/eddienoteddy/" rel="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Eddie Makuch</a> on <time datetime="2015-01-30" itemprop="datePublished" pubdate="pubdate" style="box-sizing: border-box;">January 30, 2015</time></h3>
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Australian airline Qantas has <a data-ref-id="false" href="http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-samsung-unveil-industry-first-virtual-reality-experience-for-travellers" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e03800; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">announced</a> a partnership with Samsung to bring the technology company's Gear VR headsets to the cabin, beginning with a trial run for first-class fliers starting next month.</div>
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As part of the test run, Gear VR headsets will be available to Qantas fliers in the Sydney and Melbourne International Airport first-class lounges, and also in first-class on select A380 flights from Australia to Los Angeles.</div>
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Qantas points out that it is the only airline anywhere to offer in-flight VR.</div>
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This trial run will span three months, and Qantas will seek fliers' feedback to see if offering VR to customers is something the company wants to take on in a larger, more official capacity.</div>
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"This technology gives us a completely new way to connect with our customers," Qantas marketing executive Olivia Wirth said.</div>
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Some of the Qantas VR experiences will include virtual tours of the company's new first-class lounges at Los Angeles Airport, as well as a VR simulation of landing. Other in-flight entertainment options will include movies and audio experiences.</div>
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Qantas will also use the Gear VR headset to let passengers take virtual trips to one of the airline's other destinations, which they say should inspire travel and promote tourism.</div>
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It's already happening. Qantas points out that Australian company Tourism NT has already partnered with the airline to create a 3D VR experience for <a data-ref-id="false" href="http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/national-parks/kakadu-national-park" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e03800; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kakadu National Park</a> that will be shown to fliers.</div>
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The Gear VR headsets will be available on select Qantas flights for first-class passengers beginning in mid-February, with another rollout in March for trips between Australia and Los Angeles.</div>
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For long-haul flights such as the trip between Australia and LA, it's not hard to see the appeal of being able to totally block out other passengers and virtually escape for a while. And for Qantas, letting travelers virtually experience other destinations instead of just looking at a tourism brochure seems like it could have some upside for ticket sales.</div>
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Samsung's Gear VR headset launched in December, and is available now for $200 through an "Innovator Edition." The device requires a Note 4 to function as the screen.</div>
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In-Flight VR Coming to Australian Airline

Qantas announces partnership with Samsung to bring Gear VR headsets to first-class fliers. by Eddie Makuch on January 30, 2015 ...

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