Google Smartwatch Release Imminent, Asian Suppliers To Begin Mass Production

According to people familiar with the matter, Google’s smartwatch is now in its late-stage development and the company is already in talks with Asian suppliers to begin its mass production, The Wall Street Journal reports. The publication also claims that the Android based device will be fully integrated with Google Now, that can answer questions and make recommendations to users based on what they are doing.

The anonymous source familiar with the product’s development also told WSJ that Google’s smartwatch will be able to communicate with other devices such as a smartphone or a tablet, and draw information such as travel schedules from a user’s email through Google Now. The device could be ready for mass production within months, he added. According to market-research firm ABI Research, annual sales of wearable devices are projected to reach 485 million units by 2018.

“With its wristwatch, Google is aiming to address two criticisms of smartwatches that skeptics have long made: usefulness and battery life. While several smartwatches are on the market already, including one from Samsung, they have yet to gain a widespread following as they still have limited functions and a relatively high price. However, analysts say that with the development of improved applications, wearable devices will become increasingly mainstream and a growing battleground for tech industry heavyweights like Google and Apple.”

For Google, the launch of a wristwatch would be an effort to secure a leading position in the growing wearable devices sector following its development of Google Glass.