Microsoft links up with Tech Data to bring HoloLens 2 to Europe

The distributor said the deal offers partners the chance to cash in on the growth opportunity presented by the arrival of the metaverse

TD Synnex company Tech Data has entered an agreement to offer Microsoft's holographic mixed reality headset to its B2B enterprise partners in Europe.

HoloLens 2 offers users an immersive experience, enabling increased precision on complex physical tasks, remote collaboration using holograms, and a secure ecosystem combining intelligent edge technology and cloud applications, Tech Data said.

Research firm IDC predicts European AR/VR spending will grow to $20.9bn by 2025 with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 69.9 per cent.

To help its partners capitalise on this opportunity and accelerate HoloLens 2 adoption among their customer base, Tech Data said it is building a range of "market-ready" AR/VR solutions which combine the HoloLens 2 platform hardware, software, accessories and services from across its end-to-end edge-to-cloud portfolio, for outcome-focused use cases in verticals such as healthcare, construction, engineering and telecommunications.

"HoloLens 2 harnesses mixed reality, intelligent edge and cloud technology to help people across diverse industries to work better, safer and more collaboratively," said Tech Data VP of Mobility, Consumer Electronics and Mixed Reality Solutions in Europe, Luc Van Huystee.

"It also offers our partners an opportunity to engage with the growth opportunity presented by the arrival of the metaverse.

"As we support its adoption in the region, we will look to leverage our strengths as an end-to-end solutions aggregator, combining HoloLens 2 with complementary hardware, software and service offerings from our extensive line card, making it easier and faster for our partners to go to market with complex industry-specific solutions."

The distributor will offer HoloLens 2 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK and Ireland.

Mariano Mailos, senior product marketing manager at Microsoft HoloLens, added: "We're delighted to welcome Tech Data as a distributor of HoloLens 2 across the EMEA Region.

"We look forward to working together to deliver even greater value to Tech Data's customers by helping them unlock the power of the fourth wave of computing: Mixed Reality."