In a move set to influence the smartwatch industry, Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has announced a collaboration with medical technology firm Masimo to develop a new reference platform for Wear OS devices. This partnership aims to integrate advanced biosensing technologies into wearable products, potentially offering users enhanced health monitoring capabilities. The initiative reflects Google’s ongoing efforts to expand its ecosystem and provide manufacturers with streamlined solutions for bringing innovative smartwatches to market.
Masimo’s alliance with Google follows the company’s previous legal disputes with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) over health monitoring features in smartwatches. While Masimo had challenged Apple’s use of biosensing technology, this new collaboration indicates a strategic shift towards expanding its presence in the wearable tech market through partnerships with other major companies.
What Does the New Platform Offer to OEMs?
The new platform is designed to help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) expedite the development of Wear OS smartwatches by incorporating Masimo’s biosensing technologies. This integration enables OEMs to efficiently include advanced health and wellness tracking features in their devices while retaining creative control over the physical design and user interface of their products.
How Will This Collaboration Impact the Wear OS Ecosystem?
By standardizing smartwatch devices and enhancing their health monitoring capabilities, the partnership is expected to strengthen the Wear OS ecosystem. It allows for better integration of Google’s apps and services tailored for Wear OS, potentially leading to wider adoption among consumers seeking comprehensive health and wellness solutions.
Bjorn Kilburn, general manager of Wear OS at Google, highlighted the benefits for manufacturers, stating:
“Building quality smartwatches with premium features that users have come to expect can be time consuming and costly.”
The collaboration also reflects a growing trend in the convergence of technology and fitness, with wearable devices aggregating a range of health data sources. Younger consumers, in particular, are increasingly adopting healthcare-related wearables, indicating a strong market potential for such integrated technologies.
The partnership between Google and Masimo represents a significant development in the competitive smartwatch market, especially in health monitoring features. By integrating advanced biosensing technologies into Wear OS devices, this collaboration could offer consumers more sophisticated health tracking options. It also positions both companies to better compete with rivals like Apple, whose dominance in the wearable tech space has been challenged by legal disputes over patent infringements. As health and wellness continue to drive consumer interest in technology, alliances like this may shape the future landscape of wearable devices.
