Gucci & Will.I.AM Team Up For Smartwatch

At this year’s Baselworld trade show, there was a surprise from Tag Heuer as they announced Google and Intel would be joining them to make a high end smartwatch for the market but the real surprise came in the form of musician and celebrity, will.i.am. The musician has joined up with Gucci Timepieces to create a “smartband” that is a standalone device, which is untethered from any smartphone or other mobile device.

The new wearable has the ability to send and receive telephone calls; send and receive text messages and email. It can store music, maps and calendars, track your fitness and will come with a “sophisticated personal assistant” that will be voice activated.

Gucci President and CEO Marco Bizzarri wrote in a recent statement:

“Wearable technology and smart devices represent a new frontier for the fashion industry. It is very appropriate that Gucci is leading the way through this collaboration with will.i.am, as innovation has always been such an important part of our DNA.”

Recently, at the Spring Forward event, Apple unveiled this year’s must-have fashion accessory; Apple Watch Edition. That particular high-end  wearable will cost in the region of $10,000 or more and will be encased in either 18K rose or yellow gold.

Gucci and will.i.am’s new smart wearable, on the other hand, is a high-end accessory from the fashion house that is famed for its luxury goods.

Although there has been no official price on the new timepiece, Will.i.am said in a statement concerning his new tech:

“i.am+ and Gucci Timepieces are setting the pace with our vision for a wearable technology…In developing together a device that is both fashionable and technologically advanced, we will create something that is unique in the marketplace. From the very start, I coined the term ‘fashionology,’ a merging of the worlds of fashion and technology, which is exactly what this collaboration with Gucci represents.”

So, it look s like ‘fashionology’ will be at the forefront of Gucci’s new line of Gucci Timepieces. The question is, how much will the new device cost?

[Image via digitaltrends]

SOURCE: Vogue