VR is reality

Google in it’s usual fashion, has stolen the tech spotlight once again with its recent success of over 5 million shipments of Google cardboard viewers to consumers. Created in 2014, this cardboard headset allows users to utilize their smart phone as a virtual reality viewer through supported applications and videos.

This amazing feat is understandable when you take a look at the other stats from Google since its Cardboard release. In the first 19 months alone Cardboard apps have been downloaded from the Google Play store more than 25 million times, up from only 5 million downloads in February 2015.

Over 1,000 VR apps

10 million of those 25 million downloads took place in only three months (October 2015 to December 2015), and can be attributed to new app’s popping up everywhere to meet the new demand for VR. Like the Cardboard Camera app for instance. Released in December of 2015, users have already taken more than 750,000 VR photos.

There are currently more than 1,000 other apps available, including the number one app Chair in a Room from Ryan Bousfield, and are increasing by the day as developers find new situations to transform into Virtual Reality.

Opportunities to make some cheddar

There’s so much success around Google’s Cardboard app and virtual reality, it’s enough for even small businesses to get a piece. Think about it: that’s 25 million more cardboard users, money spenders and potential consumers to take advantage of. All you have to do is develop an app that incorporates your brand into Virtual Reality. If it’s real estate, come up with an app that allows potential viewers to see property without having to leave their home. If it’s a service you offer instead of a product, give users the chance to see your service in action via VR. The possibilities are endless.

As endless as they may be though, I won’t pretend like developing an app is the easiest thing to to do. For specialized developers, it still  takes about 18 weeks to build an app, according to Kinvey.com, and probably even longer for a VR app. However, the process is worth it when you consider the potential success of having access to an audience with over 5 million, and growing, people.

Get your brand on the train

You saw how popular original apps were when they were first introduced and if you missed that train, this is the next one to catch, as there will be no technology without the mention of VR in the future.  Use Google Cardboard, and Virtual Reality apps to leverage your brand, and be one of the apps 25 million people are downloading today.

#GoogleCardboardTrain