Content’s Next Act

What’s the future of entertainment? New and immersive experiences from Magic Leap’s developers eventually riding on the AT&T mobile 5G network. That was my message at the L.E.A.P. Developer Conference earlier today. 

A mixed reality future powered by 5G

Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz and I discussed the parallels between the advent of smartphones a decade ago and mixed reality today. AT&T had an exclusive with Apple when the iPhone launched in 2007. What followed was an explosion in creativity and network traffic. The steep upward trajectory has continued from 3G through 4G LTE to 5G Evolution, right along with innovations from the App Store through Instagram and Snapchat to mobile video. 

Now we’re set for another tidal wave. This time, our exclusive is with Magic Leap. The developers are creating not mobile apps but content for spatial computing. And the network driving innovation will one day be mobile 5G. 

Betting big on mixed reality

I expect 5G to be the most game-changing technology in my 35-year career. Even more than speed, it will be about low latency. For spatial computing, that will eventually make the difference between bulky, tethered equipment and a lightweight headset. Future 5G will also supercharge existing equipment with gaming PC-level performance. 

We expect to be the first U.S. company to introduce standards-based mobile 5G service in parts of 12 cities by end of this year. We see mixed reality as a strong, future use case for 5G. And we consider the Magic Leap One headset – coming soon to select AT&T stores – as a catalyst like the first iPhone. 

That’s why we plan to introduce a 5G test-zone on the Magic Leap campus in Plantation, Fla., in 2019. 5G connectivity will give developers and creators the ability to test devices and applications on a 5G network right where the work is being done. 

Forecasting the Future

At the conference, I gave a simulated demo of an app we developed working closely with Magic Leap. It simulates what happens when you put on Magic Leap One and tune into DIRECTV NOW, our streaming video service. This version of the app will give you a new level of control in how and where you watch, allowing you to place up to 4 lives streams – a cooking show, news, an old movie and the football game – all at the same time. 

Virtual TV is just the beginning of what our collaboration with Magic Leap will deliver for consumers. The future of spatial computing will fully integrate content into your entire world – like walking out of your hotel in L.A. with your 5G-enabled Magic Leap device and finding the entire city themed as 3D Gotham.