KEY POINTS

  • Meta is the new name of the social media giant Facebook
  • The company has spent billions of dollars in creating Metaverse
  • Meta is all set to open its first physical to the public on May 9

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has announced the launch of its first physical store, which intends to give visitors a chance to try out and shop for virtual reality (VR) gadgets.

Consumers can start visiting the Meta Store from May 9 in Burlingame, California. Like the Apple Store, the new brick-and-mortar space of Meta will allow visitors to "get hands-on experience with all" the company's hardware products.

There will be interactive demos where users can "make video calls to retail associates with Meta Portal." They can also learn how Ray-Ban Stories can help you stay present with the world around you, and explore the magic of VR with a first-of-its-kind immersive Meta Quest 2 demo," the company posted on its official blog.

A man stands in front of a sign of Meta, the new name for the company formerly known as Facebook, at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, U.S. October 28, 2021.
A man stands in front of a sign of Meta, the new name for the company formerly known as Facebook, at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, U.S. October 28, 2021. Reuters / Carlos Barria

"Once people experience the technology, they can gain a better appreciation for it. If we did our job right, people should leave and tell their friends, ‘You’ve got to go check out the Meta Store," the head of Meta Store, Martin Gilliard, said.

Apart from the products, the Meta Store will feature a Virtual Reality (VR) space that allows customers to experience different apps, including Real VR Fishing and Beat Saber, projected on a massive curved LED screen in-store for everyone to see. In a new post, Mark Zuckerberg said the new store would help people "get a sense of what's coming as we build toward the metaverse."

Metaverse is Meta's concept of a science-fiction world, which is an immersive version of the internet, where people use gadgets like VR or AR glasses, among others, to enjoy. The company has already spent billions of dollars last year on this project spearheaded by Facebook Reality Labs.

In addition to Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, the Meta Store will also feature Quest 2 virtual reality headset, Portal video calling device and many others. Unlike Apple, which has made its brick-and-mortar retail shops a core part of its business over the years, there is only one Meta Store for now.

Meta is also working on its AR glasses, which are reportedly a high-end headset and a smartwatch that would challenge the Apple Watch, Samsung and other smartwatch makers in the industry.

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