Google Launches Android Wear

Google's official blog also featured a video showing people wearing smartwatches and checking sports scores, controlling music, replying to text messages and even opening their garages by simply saying “Ok Google, Open Gargage”. 

 

Google further said in its official blog, "We've barely scratched the surface of what's possible with mobile technology. That's why we're so excited about wearables — they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word." The search giant is already working with some of the leading electronics manufacturers like LG ( key launch  partner for Android Wear), Asus, HTC, Motorola, Samsung ; chip makers such as Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, MediaTek, and Qualcomm; and fashion brands like Fossil Group. 

 

Among the first smartwatches would be LG’s G watches and Motorola’s Moto 360 smartwatch. LG hasn’t released any specs apart from saying that it wants G Watch to act as a "low barrier to entry" for developers, while offering a Google experience to users at the same time. Motorola has also not released any details about the pricing of the watch. The only details divulged by the company is that the watch will feature "a round face and premium materials," and will be available "in a variety of styles globally in Summer 2014, starting in the U.S."

 

 

Google probably doesn’t want the watch to look like a geeky device which very well explains the partnership with Fossil. The watch and accessories maker said “We believe we are uniquely positioned to develop and bring to market products for our fashion customers that marry the beauty of our designs, the promise of our brands and now the function of new technology.” “The partnership is still very much in the formative research and development stage.We are committed to playing an active role in the push toward wearable technology and helping to shape the fusion of fashion and technology.”said Greg McKelvey, chief strategy and marketing officer for Fossil.

 

Google’s announcement has the potential to “push wearable technology into mainstream acceptance. It can’t do anything but accelerate an already fast-moving space”, Jeffrey Hammond, an analyst in Forrester’s application development and delivery group, told the San Jose Mercury News.

 

One advantage for Google, notes IDC analyst Al Hilwa, is the huge number of developers that are already building apps for Android smartphones and who may want to integrate their apps with Android-powered wearable devices as well. It’s a “virtuous cycle,” said Hilwa. “Developer excitement leads to apps, which leads to more sales of the device, which in turn leads to more apps.” Posted on WSJ blog. 

 

Google with the latest announcement has taken the lead in the smartwatch market. Since early last year there were buzz doing rounds about Apple Inc's plans for coming up with wearable computers and its very own smartwatch. Apple’s Chief Executive, Tim Cook had hinted at new "product categories" to launch this year.

 

“They’re trying to get in front of whatever Apple is going to do,” said Tero Kuittinen, a telecom analyst for the mobile diagnostics firm Alekstra.

 

“It’s important that Google is getting its ducks in a row to be able to offer a new outlet for Android developers, and it’s something that Apple will want to do when it launches into the wearables space, too,” said Jan Dawson, an independent telecom analyst for Jackdaw Research.