Zoom has made its first foray into mixed reality with a meeting app for Apple's Vision Pro that promises new ways to collaborate in three dimensions.

With Apple's high-tech headset due to launch Friday, Zoom has created a visionOS app that will make use of the "spatial computing" capabilities of the device. This includes 3D representations of meeting participants, with the ability to see facial and hand movements and the ability to scale the app to desired size. The features will be available beginning Feb. 2.

"The evolution of both new and existing Zoom technologies within emerging media is expected," said Wayne Kurtzman, IDC research vice president of social, communities and collaboration. "The enterprise should take note that these markets will evolve quickly in the years ahead - and collaboration will become more visual and engaging."

Later this year - during the spring, Zoom said in a blog post Monday - more features will roll out, including 3D object sharing. This will allow meeting participants to share and view 3D files with remote colleagues, such as animators working on character models, for instance. It will also be possible to "pin" up to five meeting participants to the mixed reality space, removing their video background for a greater sense of realism and presence.

Zoom also plans to make its Team Chat text collaboration tool available from within the visionOS app.

Workplace collaboration isn't expected to be a key driver of AR/VR adoption among businesses, according to Ra