Apple is rumored to launch a smartwatch of its own, and Google has Android Wear, an SDK that it will be providing OEMs who wish to build smartwatches based on Android, like Motorola’s Moto 360 and LG’s G Watch. This is why it is hardly a stretch of the imagination to think that Microsoft could be interested in making a smartwatch of their own too, and now thanks to a report on Forbes, additional details about Microsoft’s rumor wearable tech has surfaced.
According to Forbes, Microsoft is expected to tap their engineers from its Kinect division to help with the development of its smartwatch. One of the rumored features of the smartwatch is its ability to measure heart rate and to sync it with mobile devices, like smartphones or tablets. Microsoft is also hoping to be able to continuously measure heart rate through the day and night, thus providing users with a constant update of information about themselves.
Interestingly enough, it seems that Microsoft wants it smartwatch to be compatible with all mobile platforms, including iOS and Android. We can only assume the iWatch will only play nice with iOS devices, and with Android Wear, well the name itself already suggests that it will be most likely optimized for Android devices. In fact Samsung’s wearables are pretty much limited to Samsung’s products, so by opening it up to iOS and Android users, Microsoft could potentially gain more customers that way.
Microsoft’s willingness to work with other platforms was demonstrated a few months ago, when the company’s new CEO, Satya Nadella, unveiled Office for iPad, finally bringing Microsoft’s suite of productivity apps onto iOS devices. Forbes also suggests that the rumored smartwatch from Microsoft could debut this summer and pack a 2-day battery life. Take it with a grain of salt for now, but if Microsoft does unveil it in the summer, they could beat Apple’s iWatch to the punch.
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