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Immersal, part of Hexagon, announced on November 16th, a strategic partnership with Burst, a leader in innovative virtual reality fan experiences. This partnership marks a significant leap forward in location-based augmented reality (AR) experiences for conference, concert and event audiences around the globe.

Immersal is a leader in spatial mapping and visual positioning technology. Its Visual Positioning System (VPS) has earned acclaim for its ability to seamlessly overlay digital content onto the real world. This technology holds the potential to shape how people interact with their environments in navigation, gaming, retail, and various other applications.

Burst is at the forefront of creating original virtual fan experiences that bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds. Burst’s proprietary metaverse platform combines real-time photorealistic graphics with groundbreaking technologies like pixel-streaming, NFTs and blockchain. Burst works closely with A-list artists in creating immersive, gamified experiences.

Integrating Immersal's VPS technology with Burst's AR solutions enables even more accurate and engaging location-based AR experiences. Seamlessly blending real and digital worlds will enhance user engagement, create new revenue opportunities for sports events and entertainment businesses. Combining Burst’s user-centric approach with Immersal’s precision will also bring location-based AR to a wider audience through applications in retail, navigation, education and more.

"Burst's innovative approach to mobile AR aligns perfectly with Immersal's vision of dissolving the boundaries between the tangible and the virtual for impactful immersive experiences,” says Matias Koski, CEO of Immersal. “Together, we will redefine how people perceive and interact with the world around them through augmented reality."

(Helsinki, Finland, 15 May 2023) Immersal Oy, part of Hexagon and a leading metaverse technology provider, today announced that its Visual Positioning Technology (VPS) is used to create AR experiences in and around Nokia Arena, in Tampere, Finland.

The pilot application which is currently available for Nokia and its VIP visitors at Nokia Arena includes:

• Signs inside the arena
• AR experiences like the stadium decorated with playing home teams’ logos
• Videos in AR
• Interactive AR experiences.

Different augmented reality applications and experiences are very interesting use cases for 5G. As Nokia Arena includes a 5G network from Nokia and Elisa, and the indoor arena is fitted with 5G base stations, AR applications have the required data bandwidth and response times. Multiaccess edge computing servers can offer the low latency needed for real-time apps like player tracking in AR.

Lauri Alho, Head of Ecosystem Development at Nokia, explains: “Nokia Arena is a pioneer in music, sports and business events, and also a Finnish landmark. The way digital and physical experiences are delivered will be transformed with the help of 5G technologies in the future. VPS and AR are technologies which can benefit from 5G capabilities.” 

“We want to serve and impress the visitors of Nokia Arena and AR innovations are one way to do this. Our cooperation with Nokia allows us to offer the latest 5G technology which opens all kinds of new services which visitors, artists, teams, fans — the whole community — can enjoy in the future,” says Marko Hurme, CEO of Nokia Arena about his vision. Nokia Arena hosts many sports and cultural events, including international and local ice hockey matches. AR-based experiences are already in use now.

Located on the Central Deck in the heart of Tampere, Nokia Arena is a next-generation experience centre that represents a new era of event experiences. The arena hosts a world-class hotel, an international casino, versatile event facilities and numerous restaurants that can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators for unforgettable and unique event experiences.

"Immersive AR experiences are an effective way for stadiums and indoor arenas to engage audiences and increase revenue," says Matias Koski, CEO of Immersal. “The growing interest in AR reflects the desire of venues to enhance the overall event experience, boost audience engagement and explore additional revenue opportunities.”

Immersal
Immersal, part of Hexagon, is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools — the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. Immersal also has sales offices in Hong Kong and in Silicon Valley, California, and is expanding its presence and partner networks globally. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.
 
Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB. 

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Immersal was selected to be part of T-Mobile's Accelarator Program among 9 other companies from around the world. The idea of the program is to drive innovation in sports and entertainment. As part of the program, participants will create engaging experiences that leverage 5G to take spectators out of their seats and into action. 

T-Mobile's plan is that the technologies developed by these startups, paired with T-Mobile 5G, will revolutionize the way fans engage with sports and other events. The program provides innovators with a platform to bring their ideas to life and leverage T-Mobile's 5G technology to create immersive experiences for spectators.

All participants and T-Mobile are looking forward to the results of this cooperation. Read more about this in T-Mobile's press release.

Immersal
Immersal, part of Hexagon, is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools — the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. Immersal also has sales offices in Hong Kong and in Silicon Valley, California, and is expanding its presence and partner networks globally. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.
 
Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB. 

• Open VR & AR welcomes any games made for virtual reality platforms and games that feature augmented reality, with a prize of 1,000€

• Immersal AR Prize for games that implement the Immersal AR SDK with a prize pool of 8,000€.

Looking forward to exciting AR and VR games! Read more about this category in GDWC.

Immersal
Immersal, part of Hexagon, is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools — the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. Immersal also has sales offices in Hong Kong and in Silicon Valley, California, and is expanding its presence and partner networks globally. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.
 
Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB. 

Immersal Oy, a leading Metaverse technology provider, today announced that Matias Koski will succeed Anttoni Vesterinen as CEO of Immersal, effective 28 February 2023.


Matias Koski, currently Immersal’s GM, Global Sales has served in key sales role since joining Immersal in 2022, covering sales strategy and business development globally and accelerating AR and Metaverse transformation across the world. He has been instrumental in defining Immersal’s focus in visual positioning and spatial mapping markets. Prior to joining Immersal, Koski held positions at Nokia and Microsoft. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering.

"I am pleased that we have identified an internal solution for my succession. Matias will provide both long-term stability and continuity, while also injecting new ideas and new ways of working as we prepare our exceptional company for the next phase of growth." says Immersal’s CEO, Anttoni Vesterinen. “It’s been a rollercoaster ride hard to describe to take Immersal from a technology concept to world leading provider of Metaverse technology. After 5 years in the helm it’s a true privilege to be able to continue to follow the company’s success now in a different role.”

“I’m honoured by the opportunity to build upon the success and growth that Anttoni and our team have created, and excited to lead Immersal into the future. We are in a prime position to capitalise on the vast opportunities ahead of us in metaverse and augmented reality (AR), including 5G as an enabler for immersive applications,” says Matias Koski, GM Global Sales, Immersal.

Anttoni Vesterinen will continue working as an Advisor and mainly focusing on business development. This will greatly benefit Immersal to strengthen the strong market position in selected markets.


Immersal
Immersal, part of Hexagon, is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools — the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. Immersal also has sales offices in Hong Kong and in Silicon Valley, California, and is expanding its presence and partner networks globally. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.
 
Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB. 

The new 5G-enabled smart city Visual Positioning System offers unmatched accuracy and new business opportunities for mobile network operators and their customers.

(Helsinki, Finland & Barcelona, Spain, 27 February 2023) Immersal Oy, part of Hexagon, announced today at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, the launch of Immersal City-Scale, a Visual Positioning System (VPS). This innovative solution offers unmatched accuracy in outdoor location-based services for mobile network operators and their enterprise customers.

“The metaverse and specifically the Spatial AR (Augmented Reality) that we are simplifying and bringing to everybody has been a great promise for years. Billions have been and continue to be invested in next-generation Visual Operating Systems, smart glasses and futuristic gadgets. Today, with Immersal’s personal metaverse app, we bring the metaverse to you – everyone, everywhere. That is big,” says Anttoni Vesterinen, CEO of Immersal.

Mobile network operators can purchase the Immersal city-scale VPS maps and sell the service to companies in various industries, including logistics, postal services, food delivery, public safety, gaming, entertainment, retail, and advertising. With its advanced mapping capabilities, the Immersal VPS streamlines the way businesses access location data, enabling more advanced location-based applications. Proprietary computer vision algorithms and advanced mapping techniques lead to the system’s unparalleled accuracy, precision and reliability.

Immersal City-Scale offers a wide range of possible applications, including:

• Augmented reality experiences for tourists and visitors at landmarks, museums and other attractions.
• Location-based advertising and marketing, providing businesses with accurate data on customer behaviour and preferences.
• Emergency response and public safety, allowing first responders to locate individuals in need of assistance quickly.

Immersal and Ericsson wowed the crowds at Leap2023 in Riyadh, showcasing the amazing immersive experiences enabled by 5G technology. The event was a huge success, with attendees excited to explore the limitless possibilities of 5G and AR innovation. The Ericsson LEAP summary video shows the excitement about all the demos and innovations:

Throughout the week, the Immersal team met with numerous potential clients, generating a wealth of new leads. The highlight of the event was the demonstration of their immersive technology, which left visitors speechless.

The event underscored the potential of 5G, highlighting how it can be leveraged to create entirely new and immersive experiences. With the untapped potential of AR and other innovative technologies, the future looks brighter than ever. The Immersal team is excited to be at the forefront of this revolution, helping to shape the future of immersive technology.

The Immersal and Ericsson demo at Leap2023 in Riyadh included a range of immersive experiences, including a show-stopping volumetric video that showcased the potential of AR technology.

Visitors were able to step into the video and explore the world around them in real-time, with stunning visual effects that made it feel as if they were truly immersed in the content. 

The use of volumetric video was a clear example of the untapped potential of AR and the incredible possibilities of 5G technology. It demonstrated the power of these technologies to create entirely new and immersive experiences, opening up new horizons for innovation and creativity.

The Immersal team was thrilled to be able to showcase this cutting-edge technology at Leap2023 and to be at the forefront of the AR revolution. They believe that experiences like these are just the beginning and that the future of AR and immersive technology is bright and full of exciting possibilities.    

For more information, related images and videos, please contact:
Päivi Laakso-Kuivalainen
CMO, Immersal Oy
Phone: +358 40 757 29 27 
Email: paivi.laaksokuivalainen@immersal.com

Immersal Oy, part of Hexagon, launched an augmented reality (AR) game arcade solution at VRARA Global Immerse Summit in Miami. The solution enables the retail and tourism industry as well as other sectors to gamify their customers’ experience while providing monetisation and learning opportunities. Potential AR arcade games are Pinball, Air Hockey, multiplayer Pong, Pacman, Tetris, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, multiplayer Snakes and Ladders, and more.
 

With the game arcade solutions, you can decorate an entire neighborhood in a city with games, for example, placing Tetris on the surface of a high-rise building. A shopping mall can include branded games with a retailer’s logo or products forming part of the game. These AR elements modernise the shopping experience, improve brand engagement and introduce an element of fun.      

Visitors in a new city or shoppers in a mall can use AR through their mobile devices or AR glasses. AR games can be combined with other AR content like navigation or e-commerce as part of a city guide app or shopping mall’s own app.

AR experiences are typically implemented with 5G, either private or public. It is possible to use MEC (multi-access edge computing) servers to ensure the immediate response times necessary for AR content. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) benefit from supporting these solutions to showcase examples of 5G in use.

Immersal previously introduced a similar solution for stadiums and horse racing tracks and has piloted these together with several operators around the world including Rakuten in Japan. 

In June 2022, Immersal also introduced a personal metaverse app which is an unprecedented way to create, share and experience the metaverse. Immersal App is an easy and fun way to merge physical and digital realities seamlessly into one immersive experience. This functionality can be integrated into both stadium and horse racing solutions.

“To make the metaverse accessible for a larger part of society, we need to lower the barriers to entrance. Games are a great way to inspire people to test AR for the first time. Adding creative monetisation and brand visibility opportunities makes this an attractive option for brands, making this the smartest first step into AR world ”, says Anttoni Vesterinen, CEO of Immersal.

Immersal 
Immersal is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools – the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. Immersal also has sales offices in Hong Kong and in Silicon Valley, California and is expanding its presence and partner networks globally. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.

Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 23,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 4.3bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.


For more information, related images, and video please contact:
Päivi Laakso-Kuivalainen
CMO, Immersal Oy
Phone: +358 40 757 29 27 
Email: paivi.laaksokuivalainen@immersal.com

(Helsinki, Finland & Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 10 October 2022) Immersal Oy, part of Hexagon,   today at GITEX in Dubai announced the launch of its augmented reality (AR) solution for horse racing tracks. The solution will work on horse racing tracks anywhere and enhance the visitor experience at the track.

Visitors at the track can use AR through their mobile devices or AR glasses, for example, to navigate to their seats at the stand, view real-time statistics or information concerning the races and individual horses, or enjoy 3D entertainment. Immersal’s AR capabilities will be incorporated in the racing track’s own app.

AR experiences in sport events, theme parks, public spaces like shopping malls or airports can enrich the experience. They can be helpful and engaging while also offering shopping and other business opportunities. This is typically implemented with 5G, either private or public. (Multi-access edge computing) MEC servers can ensure immediate response times of the AR content. For Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Immersal’s app is a great opportunity to showcase the value of 5G in use.

Immersal already introduced a similar solution for stadiums and piloted it together with several operators around the world, including Rakuten in Japan.

In June 2022, Immersal introduced a personal metaverse app — a revolutionary way to create, share and experience the metaverse. The Immersal app is an easy and fun way to merge the physical with the digital seamlessly into one immersive experience. This functionality can be integrated into both stadium and horse racing solutions.

“Combining the low latency and high throughput of 5G with our Visual Positioning solution, we can deliver real-time insights to the spectators in high quality. By providing statistics on the horses and the individual races as well as entertainment like 3D animations, the race organiser can offer an enhanced experience simultaneously to thousands of viewers. This is something unseen at the race tracks before,” says Anttoni Vesterinen, CEO of Immersal. 

About Immersal
Immersal is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools – the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 23,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 4.3bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.

Contact

For related images, videos or additional information please contact:

Päivi Laakso-Kuivalainen, CMO, Immersal Oy, +358 40 757 29 27 paivi.laaksokuivalainen@immersal.com

Immersal Oy launched at Augmented World Expo (AWE) USA the Immersal App. It is revolutionary way to create, share and experience the Metaverse. Immersal App is easy and fun way to merge physical and digital seamlessly into one immersive experience. All the current metaverse services require expert knowledge and development competence to connect, share and experience digital content like photos and videos in real environment. Immersal App enables everyone, everywhere to create share and experience Metaverse instantly and easily. 

Use cases range from sharing personal photos with closest friends at locations dear to the group to secret video messages relevant to only certain people at certain location to leaving greetings outside your favorite restaurant to reliving a dramatic location specific event and much, much more.

“I’m thrilled to break the news. Metaverse and specifically the Spatial AR (Augmented Reality) that we are simplifying and bringing to everybody has been a great promise already for years. Billions have been and continue to be invested in next generation Visual Operating Systems, Smart glasses, and futuristic gadgets. Today with the Immersal (personal metaverse) App we bring the Metaverse in front of you, I and everyone, everywhere. That is big ” Says Anttoni Vesterinen, CEO of Immersal.

Immersal is building world-leading spatial mapping and visual positioning tools – the foundation of the metaverse. Founded in 2015, Immersal’s team is based in Helsinki, Finland, and working with partners, developers and creators across the globe to reimagine how we explore, interact and create. The company was acquired by Hexagon in 2021 and continues to pursue the vision of a metaverse built and experienced by everyone on any device.

For related images and videos please contact:

Anttoni Vesterinen, CEO Immersal Oy, +358 40 750 1717 anttoni@immersal.com

For more information contact:

Anttoni Vesterinen, CEO Immersal Oy, +358 40 750 1717 anttoni@immersal.com

Matias Koski, GM Sales, +358 45 156 7716 matias.koski@immersal.com 

Tokyo, November 10, 2021 – Rakuten Mobile, Inc. and Rakuten Vissel Kobe, Inc. today announced the success of a trial of a new spectator experience utilizing Rakuten Mobile’s 5G mmWave network and VPS (Visual Positioning System) technology, held at Noevir Stadium Kobe on November 3, 2021^*1. The experience enabled spectators to view player and match statistics through an AR (augmented reality) overlay, while also integrating AR advertising and e-commerce functionality. Read the whole press release.

NACKA STRAND, Sweden, July 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions, today announced the acquisition of Immersal Oy, a pioneer and leading innovator of spatial mapping and visual positioning solutions used to produce augmented reality (AR) applications. 

AR applications enhance real-world experiences by augmenting a user's visual perception with the display of digital content in the physical world. AR's ability to weave context-specific, 3D information into physical spaces provides endless opportunities to save time, improve performance and reduce costs across a wide range of industries and applications – from surveying, construction, public safety and manufacturing to maintenance, training and navigation applications. The immersive experience can help boost task efficiency, improve safety protocols, optimise workflows, increase collaboration and much more. 

The Immersal SDK (software development kit) allows developers to merge and "anchor" digital content to real-world objects – with precise accuracy to their actual location in the physical space – by enabling a user's mobile device to locate and orient itself in the surrounding physical world using machine-readable maps. The maps, which are used for visual positioning, are constructed from image data supported by various mapping devices (including mobile phones) and hosted in the Immersal Cloud Service.

"Hexagon has long been a leader in delivering smart digital realities that combine inputs from reality capture sensors with advanced visualisation software and tools to enable remote, location-based intelligence. This acquisition puts the power of these insights into the hands of those on-site, enhancing their field of view with superimposed digital information, meaning they can literally do more with what they see," says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. "For example, direct access to information about an asset – while working with that asset – including step-by-step instructions on how to repair it, can streamline maintenance tasks while reducing material waste and re-work."

Immersal has years of experience developing AI and machine learning-based spatial anchor technology, which "anchors" virtual objects or models for viewing on different devices in the same position and orientation. This unlocks a wide variety of location-based solutions and services – from consumer-oriented augmented reality applications in gaming and media and entertainment to digital twin solutions on an enterprise scale. Immersal's technology can map large spaces – both indoors and outdoors – and, unlike other solutions, works both offline on-device and online using the Cloud Service.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Immersal will operate as part of Hexagon's Geosystems division. The acquisition has no significant impact on Hexagon's earnings.

For further information, please contact:

Maria Luthström, Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 27, ir@hexagon.com

Kristin Christensen, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexagon AB, +1 404 554 0972, media@hexagon.com