Virtual reality hype runs amok at MWC 2016, as mobile industry crowds onto bandwagon

BARCELONA, Spain — In the search for new ways to grow, the mobile industry is placing a large stack of chips on virtual reality, even if the wisdom of these bets is far from clear.

Virtually reality has dominated nearly every corner of the gargantuan Mobile World Congress 2016 this week. It literally took center stage the night before the official opening of the conference, when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance at the annual Samsung press conference to talk up his hopes and dreams for virtual reality.