Qualcomm’s big plan to help push the wearables industry forward
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Qualcomm’s Wearables Ecosystem Accelerator Program will help wearables companies discover and collaborate on new products.
- The goal is to reduce the common weaknesses of the smartwatch industry such as slow production times and the high cost of introducing new technologies.
- Almost 50 brands are already part of the program, including Mobvoi, Verizon, Fossil, BBK and Arm.
Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Wear SoC is efficient and capable, but you might not know – only two smartwatches with the latest Qualcomm chip have hit the market since it was announced over a year ago. Chipset adoption has been a constant problem over the past few years, but Qualcomm is doing something about it. Today it announced its own Wearables Ecosystem Accelerator Program to help companies in the wearables space learn about and collaborate on new products.
The accelerator program includes smartwatch OEMs and ODMs, ISPs, independent hardware and software developers (IHVs and ISVs), and system integrators. Almost 50 brands are already part of the program, including well-known members such as Arm, BBK, Fossil, Mobvoi, Oppo, TCL, Timex, Verizon and ZTE.
Qualcomm’s goal with the program is to facilitate “collaboration” among members and expedite problem resolution. In other words, companies in the smartwatch space can talk to each other on a regular basis and help each other solve unique problems. It’s a way of getting everyone into the room at the same time so that everything moves faster.
Also read: The best Wear OS watches you can buy from Fossil, Mobvoi, and more
Participating companies can hold training courses on new technologies, demonstrate concepts, exchange new technology and production directions and discuss industry trends. Hopefully, some of the most common problems plaguing the smartwatch arena – slow production times and high cost of introducing new technologies – will be alleviated through this program.
Qualcomm plans to launch the program this fall at the Wearables Ecosystem Summit.
Qualcomm doesn’t just develop chipsets for Wear OS – it’s also active in many other segments such as smartwatches for kids and teens, wearables for seniors, and pet trackers. The company has shipped over 40 million units in the past five years, and there is no doubt that the wearables market is growing rapidly. Now is the right time for the company to take things to the next level.
