Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it plans to use its prowess in smartphones and close partnerships to build up an ecosystem in the virtual reality (VR) sector.

The move comes as Samsung Group's top executives tested Gear VR devices during their weekly meeting in Seoul, reflecting the conglomerate's efforts to tap the VR segment as one of its next growth engines.

"It is important to build an ecosystem for the VR market," said an official from Samsung Electronics, the flagship company of Korea's largest family-run business group. "The three pillars of the ecosystem are capturing video, sharing them on platforms, and providing quality contents."

Samsung said it is currently making efforts to establish such an ecosystem, adding that VR technology is already being applied by major tech and media firms such as Google and CNN.

"VR technology can also improve the educational environment in not only advanced countries, but in developing ones as well," the official added.

Samsung, however, said VR devices still need to overcome barriers in size, and also must make efforts to improve the resolution to eliminate possible motion sickness that could be sparked by some VR content.

Network technology also needs to be improved as VR videos' real-time streaming can only be made possible through the fifth-generation network and not on the existing long-term evolution technology.

The company declined to comment on possible VR-related features that could be applied in its next flagship smartphone expected to be showcased in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress next week.

Samsung last year released the Gear VR in cooperation with U.S.-based Oculus VR, which connects to high-end Samsung smartphones.

For now, Samsung Electronics said VR technology will play an important role in improving the competitiveness of its smarpthones.

"Samsung will expand ties with Oculus, and also bolster partnerships with various other firms so as to provide the best possible products," the official said. (Yonhap)