Google and Samsung are working together to develop a new hardware and software platform for smartwatches that is likely to be adopted by major manufacturers ranging from TAG Heuer to Fossil.
The news was announced at this week’s Google I/P developer conference, and is expected to yield its first new products in the fall.
By combining forces, Samsung and Google hope to create a platform that, through their own smartwatches and through third party licensing, create products superior to Apple’s Watch.
Fitbit, which is now owned by Google, is also contributing its expertise to the alliance.
Cnet, a leading technology portal, says Samsung’s partnership with Google includes co-designing the next version of WearOS and improving the technical capabilities of smartwatches including fitness sensor support and future chipsets.
“We’re seeing apps start up to 30% faster, and the performance is allowing us to add animations and transitions that are super smooth that we didn’t have before, all of this powered on the latest chipsets,” Bjorn Kilburn, director of product management for Google Wear, said on a Google Hangout call with Cnet.