Silicon Valley teams up with Switzerland for Horological Smartwatch Open Platform
Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT), a joint venture between Silicon Valley’s Fullpower Technologies and Swiss company Union Horlogère, has announced the Horological Smartwatch Open Platform – an initiative that should see a wealth of stylish Swiss-made smartwatches launching.
Union Horlogère owns Swiss watchmakers Frederique Constant and Alpina but it isn’t just these two brands that will be launching devices; third parties will be able to license the quartz module tech as well – the Mondaine Helvetica No 1 Smart is the first such example and will go on show at Baselworld next month.
The smartwatches are Withings Activité style fitness trackers with MotionX (of Jawbone fame) powering the activity and sleep recording features.
Like the Activité and its cheaper brother, the Activité Pop, there’s a dial which shows a wearer’s progression towards their daily step goals.
“The Horological Smartwatch Open Platform is a leap forward, changing what we know about our daily behavior,” said Philippe Kahn, founder and CEO of Fullpower.
“It is based on tracking and analysing more than 100 million nights of sleep, and years of research and development on the biomechanics of natural human motion. Whether you are sleeping or awake, the Swiss Horological Smartwatch gives you accurate sleep and activity tracking information using patented advanced sensing technology, and you never have to recharge it.”
Baselworld 2015 will see Frederique Constant and Alpina branded smartwatches go on show and will go on sale in June with prices starting around $1,000.