Rather than offering HP-branded wearables, HP Inc. has chosen to become the technology partner to other brands looking to enter this nascent market. Following a collaboration with U.S. designer Michael Bastien that led to the MB Chronowing, it worked with Movado on the just announced Movado BOLD Motion. HP today announced a new partner for its Engineered by HP program. It will collaborate with Titan, an Indian designer and manufacturer of watches and other fashion goods, to develop a new smartwatch.
“Engineered by HP is reinventing the experience consumers have with everyday accessories by making existing objects smarter through innovative materials, design and technology, to keep people connected to the way they live today,” said Sridhar Solur, General Manager, Wearables and Smart Platforms at HP Inc.
Little is known about the Titan smartwatch at this point but HP promises that it will be “responsive, not Intrusive.”
Titan is the world’s fifth largest watchmaker. A a joint venture between the Tata Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, it sells over 15 million time pieces annually in 32 countries around the globe.
With its “Engineered by HP” program, HP offers partners a solution that includes the hardware modules, software and user interface, cloud services and an app compatible with both Android and iOS that allows users to configure and connect the watches to the cloud.
HP also announced that it is also working with additional designers and fashion brands. It promises that additional partnership announcements will be announced “over the coming months.”
Source : HP Inc.