Google confirmed that it will launch its two new smartwatches in the first quarter of the coming year. Jeff Chang, the product manager for Android Wear confirmed the the report at an conference with The Verge.
Google is going to launch its preview in January. Chang confirmed that this time the watches will not be Google-branded, instead branded by the manufacturer. The Android Wear-partner of Google includes – LG, Huawei, Samsung, Motorola, Fossil, ASUS, Casio, Sony, Nixon, Michael Kors and Tag Heuer. But Google said that the company will probably narrow it down.
Furthermore, Jeff said that “Five months ago, we revealed that Google was undertaking such a project, with the device codenamed being Angelfish and Swordfish.”
Google also claimed that a number of partners would be launching new wear devices at CES in a couple of weeks, and more yet at Baseworld next year.
Google’s upcoming watches will get the update to Android 2.0. Company claimed that these new watches be the first one to launch with the new platform. This new platform have lot many interesting features, as, it includes standalone apps that doesn’t require a phone to work, it also supports the Android Pay. Moreover, it has the support for Google’s voice controlled Assistant.
All these new features will be there in the upcoming watches, the previously launched will not get these updates.
Android 2.0 watches will support both the Android and iOS, though there will be difference between Wear 2.0 on Android and iOS, Android Pay will work on both of them. Jeff Chang, also added that after the launch of Google’s flagship watches, the Android 2.0 watch market will get many other new devices by other partners.
On the tie up of Google with many partners, Chang said that “Our strategy to work with many partners on Android Wear devices is advantageous. We’ve enabled a lot of diversity with our hardware partners to target different types of consumers and preferences.”
Google only revealed that users will experience the new watch launch in Q1 of 2017. No other information related to price, release or availability is provided yet.
