Opportunities and hurdles with Google's Daydream VR vision

There will also be a wireless motion controller — functioning like a fishing rod, a steering wheel or a pointer — to permit more-sophisticated VR experiences.

Because these phones don't exist yet, it will take time for Daydream to grow, says Jan Dawson, chief analyst at Jackdaw Research.

If anything, Daydream could spark interest in smartphone upgrades.

Because the pace of phone innovation has slowed, some people have been holding on to their phones longer.

Google's controller will be able to sense motion, so you can swing it like a tennis racket when playing a tennis game in VR.

[...] these headsets are cheap enough that consumers aren't taking a huge financial risk, certainly nothing near what it takes to commit to a Rift, Vive or Sony's upcoming PlayStation VR, says Ian Fogg, head of the mobile analyst group at IHS.

[...] while some people might be buying VR games and apps that won't work with a future, competing system, Fogg says these are cheap, too — priced like a phone app, along the lines of a few dollars.

Once Google's devices are in the hands — and heads — of consumers, there will be more incentive for companies, educators and individuals to create VR apps.

Google says leading brands like Netflix, HBO, The Wall Street Journal and game maker Electronic Arts have committed to Daydream.