Internet
“Metaverse”: Little interest from German companies
A participant makes a Metaverse experience via VR technology at SC Telesom’s Jump Studio during the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona. photo
© Jordi Boixareu/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
In Silicon Valley, Internet giants like the Facebook group Meta are betting everything on the “Metaverse”. In the German economy, however, the three-dimensional expansion of the Internet is met with great skepticism.
Business in Germany is skeptical about the vision of a “metaverse”. In a survey by the digital association Bitkom, which was published in Berlin on Wednesday, every second company (48 percent) stated that they were not planning any investments in virtual worlds. Only every tenth company wants to put money into “Metaverse” projects this year or 2023. 41 percent of the companies announced that they will invest in this area in 2024 or in the next five years.
On the one hand, the “Metaverse” refers to a digital and interactive environment that can be entered with virtual reality glasses. In it, users can work, play, meet or shop as avatars. The “metaverse” also includes applications in which digital information is displayed in the user’s real field of vision.
Connections of real and virtual world
Bitkom CEO Bernhard Rohleder referred to numerous connections between the real and virtual world. “Virtual goods are bought with real money, digital twins and avatars represent real machines and people.”
The Bitkom survey shows that only every fourth company (26 percent) is generally interested and open to the topic. However, 29 percent were critical and negative. A third (34 percent) is still undecided. 26 percent of the companies surveyed see an opportunity in the “Metaverse”, while every fifth company (20 percent) fears a risk for their own company.
According to experts, the skepticism of companies in Germany could also have something to do with the fact that the virtual reality glasses from the Facebook group Meta, which dominate the market, are not sold at all in this country. The reason is a dispute with the cartel office. The Meta group lifted the controversial requirement for a Facebook login to use its Meta Quest 2 virtual reality glasses in August. The VR glasses from Meta, including the new VR glasses Quest Pro, are still not available in Germany. Rohleder said that the high price of VR glasses is also an obstacle, at least for private consumers.
In the Bitkom survey, a narrow majority (58 percent) of the companies surveyed are of the opinion that the “Metaverse” will significantly change the Internet and offer a multitude of new business opportunities. On the other hand, 42 percent consider it to be short-term hype that will not live up to expectations and will soon disappear.
PM Bitkom