LG Uplus and Google Collaborate on AR Content Production

Forming AR Content Fund for Joint Investment and Collaboration in Production and Supply

Ha Hyun-hoe, Vice Chairman of LG Uplus, attending CES 2020 held in Las Vegas, USA, is seen talking with key executives of Google at the exhibition.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] LG Uplus is expanding the immersive content market by jointly producing augmented reality (AR) content with Google.

On the 12th, LG Uplus announced that it would collaborate with Google to activate AR content at CES 2020 held in Las Vegas, USA, from the 7th to the 10th. They agreed to jointly invest in an AR content fund and cooperate in the production and global supply of AR content.

The two companies decided to expand their cooperation from VR content production and joint investment last year to AR content. So far, LG Uplus has exclusively provided K-content on its VR-dedicated platform U+VR and Google's YouTube. Since September last year, LG Uplus and Google have opened the world’s first 5G-based cultural space, ‘U+5G Gallery,’ at Gongdeok Station on Seoul Subway Line 6, allowing visitors to enjoy cultural and artistic works through AR.

LG Uplus will offer the jointly produced 3D AR content in one place for Uplus customers to view. Google plans to provide the service uniformly through its search service regardless of telecom carriers or devices. Various animation movements and sound effects that are difficult to provide through Google Search will be offered via LG Uplus services to differentiate the service.

Going forward, LG Uplus plans to expand the ecosystem related to immersive content by increasing exclusive content provided in cooperation with Google, including AR content.

Starting this year, when 5G subscribers are expected to surpass 10 million, LG Uplus will actively foster 5G content such as AR and VR. It will invest 2.6 trillion KRW over five years in content and technology development, which is twice the average investment amount made over the past five years.

LG Uplus plans to expand VR and AR-based immersive content not only on mobile but also on TV platforms to provide 5G services to wired customers. Last year, LG Uplus secured about 19,000 exclusive content pieces. It is also focusing on discovering innovative content such as entertainment or educational content applying AR, and performances, games, and webtoons combined with VR.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.