AT&T will be the exclusive U.S. wireless distributor of products made by mixed reality startup Magic Leap under an agreement announced by the companies last week.
The carrier also made an equity investment in Magic Leap as part of the deal, CNBC reports, and the companies will enter into a retail partnership as well.
AT&T officials said the agreement would join its network with Magic Leap’s “proprietary spatial computing and experiential platforms” to create “new kind of contextually aware, intelligent, human-computer interactivity.”
“We’re designing and offering the future of entertainment and connectivity, and this exclusive arrangement — in combination with our 5G leadership position — will open up new opportunities and experiences,” John Donovan, CEO of AT&T Communications, said in a statement.
Magic Leap last year gave developers a look at its debut product, the Magic Leap One, and reports anticipate that system — which includes a headset, a hand-held remote and a small computing component that hooks onto the user’s hip — will begin shipping this year.
AT&T will distribute the products when they become available, and AT&T customers will be able to experience the system first at AT&T locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other markets.
“We’ve joined with AT&T because we believe in a combined vision of expanding high-speed networks, edge computing and deep integration with creative content,” said Magic Leap President and CEO Rony Abovitz. “Coupling the strength of the evolving AT&T network with Magic Leap’s spatial computing platform can transform computing experiences for people.”
