Apple hired Meta AR communications director to prepare for the launch and promotion of AR glasses next year

Apple is preparing for its long-rumored release of AR and VR devices, and the company has allegedly hired Andre Schubert, Meta's head of AR communications, for a similar role.

There have long been rumors that Apple is working on VR or AR devices. While there are rumors that Apple will be released in 2022, it seems that Apple is slowly preparing for the promotion of this device.

It is reported that Apple is forming a part of the team to be responsible for the release of AR hardware and subsequent marketing work. Among them, the company allegedly hired Andre Schubert, the head of communications and public relations at Meta AR.

While it's likely that Apple poached Meta executives for its own products, there doesn't seem to be any outside sign that Schubert jumped ship. According to the LinkedIn page, Schubert is still working full-time for Meta, serving as "Director of Communications, Augmented Reality and Research at Reality Labs" in Meta's consumer hardware division.

Given the highly competitive market and Apple's tradition of secrecy, it seems reasonable not to let the public see such hiring changes before a new product goes on sale.

Previously, Schubert was a pr manager at Oculus (now Meta), a VR headset maker acquired by Facebook. He also spent 5 years as a director at The OutCast Agency, handling PR matters for big clients such as Facebook and Oculus, and as a senior account executive at Shift Communications.

Apple VR is considered a standalone head-mounted device for mixed reality, providing a mixed reality experience by using a camera. The device is thought to have a glass casing similar to the Apple Watch and AirPods max-style padding, presumably with a lidar sensor system to track the user's hand, enabling a controller-less experience.

Pricing rumors say that when it ships sometime in 2022, the price will be between $1,000 and $3,000.