AppleInsider Staff
Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn, revealed on Wednesday that it will be releasing a smart watch that can interface with Apple's iPhone.
Foxconn's announcement, as reported by Want China Times, comes amidst rumors that Google, Samsung and Apple are actively preparing to launch their own wrist-based smart device sometime in the near future.
The product has yet to be named, but Foxconn outlined some of its features at a shareholders meeting. The device can measure a user's respiration and hearbeat, as well as check phone calls and Facebook posts, all over a wireless interface. While not specified, the unit most likely sends data over Bluetooth 4.0, a low-energy protocol used in many small form factor peripherals.
"With such a device, you can keep your phone in your pocket and simply check all kinds of messages on your watch," Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou said.
According to Gou, the company is working with its communications and medical research groups to add additional features like a fingerprint reader. The firm is looking to position the smart watch as a new driver of income as it slowly moves into marketing its own products.
Apple is widely rumored to be mulling an entry into the wearable computing sector with its own watch-like device, with some even speculating that the product will focus on biometrics.
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38 Comments
Right. Because we know how good their software is right? /s
Apple should be extremely clear with them: if you get into the consumer space and compete with us, you risk losing a substantial part or all of our business In the meantime, Apple needs to be ramping up alternative suppliers. Like Samsung, it cannot be beholden to a single supplier or partner
Either this is with Apple's "permission ", or another supplier is fixing to screw them.
[quote name="Red Oak" url="/t/158278/apple-manufacturing-partner-foxconn-announces-iphone-compatible-smart-watch#post_2353979"]Apple should be extremely clear with them: if you get into the consumer space and compete with us, you risk losing a substantial part or all of our business In the meantime, Apple needs to be ramping up alternative suppliers. Like Samsung, it cannot be beholden to a single supplier or partner[/quote] Last I checked Apple doesn't make a watch nor has announced one. If Foxconn is first to market then Apple would be competing with them not vice versa.
Another stab in the back for Apple. Likely Foxconn had some insight information about the iWatch and now they don't want to wait for Apple's order anymore.