Microsoft HoloLens is coming to Japan

TOKYO, Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. announced on Tuesday that Microsoft HoloLens, the world's first self-contained holographic computer running Windows 10, will be available for preorder in Japan starting Dec. 2. Devices will begin to ship in early 2017.

Today's news comes just six weeks after Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition and Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite expanded globally to six new markets. With this milestone HoloLens is now available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States (including Puerto Rico).

"Our mission at Microsoft is to bring mixed reality to every person and organization on the planet," said Alex Kipman, technical fellow, Microsoft Windows and Devices Group. "Since January 2015 we have been hard at work to bring the vision of mixed reality to life. It has been inspiring to see what has been created by our partners, and the team remains in awe of the way developers are using HoloLens. We can't wait to see what everyone in Japan creates when they get their hands on HoloLens."

Commercial customers breaking new ground with Microsoft HoloLens

HoloLens has transformed how companies work with their three-dimensional data, delivering new ways to design, create, collaborate and explore. More information about how companies are changing the way they work is available here. 

One of the companies innovating with HoloLens is Japan Airlines. Using Microsoft HoloLens, Japan Airlines has developed two proof-of-concept programs to provide supplemental training for engine mechanics, and for flight crew trainees who want to be promoted to co-pilot status. Microsoft is very excited to have Japan Airlines on this holographic journey.

Microsoft's mixed-reality movement is just beginning

Today, HoloLens customers are developing innovative solutions that are already having a positive impact on their business. These customers are the early adopters of the kind of mixed-reality solutions that are poised for exponential growth in the years to come. According to IDC, "worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality market will grow from $5.2 billion in 2016 to more than $162 billion in 2020."^* Windows 10 will be updated in 2017 to include Windows Holographic, the platform that powers the mixed-reality experiences enabling people to perceive the world differently, break down barriers, and bring the virtual and the physical worlds together.

Microsoft HoloLens available to preorder in Japan now

Microsoft first announced HoloLens in January 2015 and shipped to developers and commercial partners in Canada and the United States on March 31, 2016. Microsoft HoloLens is available for preorder Dec. 2, exclusively from the Microsoft Store in Japan, with devices starting to ship in early 2017.

More about the Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition and Commercial Suite, and Windows Holographic, can be found here.

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @Microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

^* IDC press release, "Worldwide Revenues for Augmented and Virtual Reality Forecast to Reach $162 Billion in 2020, According to IDC," Aug. 15, 2016

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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

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