Google, Intel and Tag Heuer partner to develop Swiss Smartwatch

20.03.2015
Google, Intel and Tag Heuer have partnered to develp a Swiss Smartwatch.

The partnership signals a new era of collaboration between Swiss watchmakers and Silicon Valley, bringing together each company's respective expertise in watchmaking, software and hardware.

Read our Guide to Using your Android Phone

It is a culmination of innovation, creativity and design from Silicon Valley in California and the "Watch Valley" in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, according to a company statement.

Tag Heuer chief executive, Jean-Claude Biver, said Swiss watch making and Silicon Valley was a marriage of technological innovation with watch making credibility.

"Our collaboration provides a rich host of synergies, forming a win-win partnership, and the potential for our three companies is enormous," he said.

The collaboration was made official at the Baselword conference on March 19.

Tag Heuer general manager, Guy Sémon, said quality of Swiss watches was renowned worldwide.

"When this is allied with the creative technology and global power of two companies like Intel and Google, using the Android Wear platform and based on Intel technology, we can see the launch of a technological revolution in our industry, of which I am proud to be a pioneer today with TAG Heuer," he said.

Android Wear director of engineering, David Singleton, said by fusing beauty with technology, the Swiss watch had inspired generations of artists and engineers alike--including us at Google.

"So we're thrilled to be working with TAG Heuer and Intel to bring a unique blend of emotion and innovation to the luxury market," he said.

"Together, and using the Android Wear platform, we can imagine a better, beautiful, smarter watch."

Intel corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's new devices group, Michael Bell, said Intel was confident that a collective approach would inspire new innovation in wearable technology.

"The collaboration with TAG Heuer and Google brings us closer to realising the vision of wearable technology with a distinctive smartwatch that elevates the category," remarked Michael Bell," he said.

(www.arnnet.com.au)

Brian Karlovsky