TAG Heuer, Google, Intel announce Swiss Smartwatch collaboration

Friday, 27 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

TAG Heuer, Google, and Intel have announced a partnership to launch a Swiss smartwatch powered by Intel technology and Android Wear. The effort signifies a new era of collaboration between Swiss watchmakers and Silicon Valley, bringing together each company’s respective expertise in luxury watch making, software and hardware. The collaboration was made official at Baselworld, during a press conference held on Thursday 19 March at the TAG Heuer booth. Watch Division LVMH Group President and TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver, Android Wear Director of Engineering David Singleton and Intel’s New Devices Group Corporate Vice President and General Manager Michael Bell joined each other on stage. Together, these companies will create a product that is both luxurious and seamlessly connected to its wearer’s daily life – a culmination of innovation, creativity and design from Silicon Valley in California and the Watch Valley in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. “Swiss watch making and Silicon Valley is 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,” said Jean-Claude Biver. TAG Heuer General Manager Guy Sémon added: “The quality of Swiss watches is 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.” David Singleton noted, “By fusing beauty with technology, the Swiss watch has 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. Together, and using the Android Wear platform, we can imagine a better, beautiful, smarter watch.” “As we work to enable technology experiences that provide greater utility and value to people, Intel is confident that a collective approach will 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.