Gear VR maker Samsung is working on standalone wireless VR hardware

Samsung R&D executive Injong Rhee noted this week that the company is getting deeper into the virtual reality business by, among other things, working to develop wireless, standalone VR hardware capable of positional tracking, as well as hand and gesture tracking.

"We are working on wireless and dedicated VR devices, not necessarily working with our mobile phone." said Rhee at a Samsung developer conference in San Francisco this week that was attended by Variety.

Samsung worked with Oculus VR to debut the first notable smartphone-powered VR headset late last year, and so (as Variety also points out) it's intriguing to see the company contemplating launching a direct competitor to the Oculus Rift.

However, Rhee reportedly cautioned that it may be years before Samsung releases a standalone VR headset, and during the same event the company made a point of highlighting its continued support for the Gear VR platform.