Zoom is set to launch its Vision Pro app alongside Apple’s new headset on February 2nd. The app will enable users to use their digital avatars, or “personas,” during video calls. These avatars are based on face scans, allowing the recipient to see facial expressions and hand movements as if the wearer is not using a headset. This aligns with Apple’s FaceTime app for the Vision Pro.
Zoom’s upcoming app will also leverage the Vision Pro’s augmented reality capabilities, seamlessly blending with users’ physical environments while appearing as a floating window. These features will be available upon the app’s launch with the headset.
Zoom has plans to introduce additional features to the app later in spring, including “real-world pinning,” which aims to enhance the immersive feel of calls. Users can pin up to five Zoom meeting participants in their physical space, removing the background. The app will also include 3D object sharing, allowing users to share 3D files and visualize them in their surroundings. Additionally, Zoom’s Team Chat, a competitor to Slack, will be integrated into the Vision Pro app.
While Apple has announced that streaming apps like Disney Plus, Max, Paramount Plus, and Peacock will have native Vision Pro apps at launch, some notable services, such as Netflix and YouTube, will not. Users of these services will need to open the apps in a web browser, providing a less immersive experience.