Apple is Reportedly Working With Swatch to Release a Line of Smartwatches in Various Styles and Price Points

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Posted July 24, 2014 at 12:12am by iClarified

Apple has been working to with Swatch to release a line of smartwatches in a variety of styles and price points, reports VentureBeat.

While most Apple-watchers and media have been laser-focused on one or two “iWatches” from Apple itself, the Cupertino, Calif.-based electronics and media giant may actually be working a number of partners in the watch business. Apple and its partners will offer a family of smartwatches to suit all tastes “from geek to chic,” our source says.

The Swatch Group is now the largest watchmaker in the world with a market cap of over $33.5 billion. It makes watches in many styles and price points under 18 different brand names. VentureBeat also suggests they could be building one or more Apple smartwatches that bear only the Apple brand.

The site's source say “he would be shocked” if Apple weren’t also working with Timex on one or more smartwatches. Timex has the well known Ironman brand of fitness watches which might be compatible with what Apple is said to be developing.

It's believed that Apple may partner with existing watch manufacturers because smartwatches aren't just another tech gadget, they are fashion statements. Customers want to choose from a wide variety of styles and price points to find one that suits them.

“It makes sense that they would try to work with existing brands,” Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart says. “And the fact that they have been getting people from luxury goods brands to work on the project would seem to back up the idea that they’re working with other brands.”

Despite the partnerships, VentureBeat's source says that Apple may also be developing a smartwatch that will have its own branding exclusively, ie the iWatch. That device may hit the market alongside watches from Swatch, Timex, or others that are compatible with Health Kit and possibly integrate Apple's technology.

What do you think? Would Apple partner with other watch companies to bring its technology to a host of watches? Let us know your thoughts in the comments...

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Apple is Reportedly Working With Swatch to Release a Line of Smartwatches in Various Styles and Price Points

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SimonSays - July 24, 2014 at 1:43pm

There you go! Swatch has released a statement saying the reports are unfounded and that they are NOT working with any electronics manufacturers on a smart watch. I told ya so comes to mind!!!!

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gamerscul9870 - July 24, 2014 at 1:44pm

That's why the article topic says nothing about it, they'll help apple release it and set price points as said.

gamerscul9870 - July 24, 2014 at 12:30pm

Because you don't see it that good! WIN

Brainspike - July 24, 2014 at 9:10am

A car is not a whole new product.....a wrist watch is not a whole new product either. Apple took a cellphone and made it better in 2007....why not a wrist watch

Victor - July 24, 2014 at 2:57am

I love the idea

SimonSays - July 24, 2014 at 1:11am

I call bull on this story. Apple will never allow it's technology into another company's hands. Just like they never opened up iOS to oem's.

Krispyywombat - July 24, 2014 at 1:26am

Actually, that's not true. At one point Jobs personally tried to get OS X on to Sony Vaio laptops, buying one of them and having a team port OS X onto it, and he presented it to the CEO of Sony during a round of Golf. The offer was declined because Windows Vaios were gaining traction and reputation.

Garry P - July 24, 2014 at 1:33am

One word for you... CarPlay. A perfect example of Apple letting other brands use their technology, rather than bringing out their own car.

SimonSays - July 24, 2014 at 4:53am

Not the same thing. This is not about intergration. This is a whole new product people will buy and use along with their iPhones. Apple would be smart to control the device and software like it does with iPhones, iPads and macs. I just don't see this happening. Why would they ever dream of sharing their profits with other companies when they can make the device, and keep all profits to themselves like they do with every other device they make.

gamerscul9870 - July 24, 2014 at 12:29pm

Simon they help donated to charities, they helped improve beats, and they paid millions to end lawsuits every not and then, so what's this keeping profits to themselves you're saying?

Garry P - July 24, 2014 at 12:59pm

Simon... I think this is exactly the same thing! In both cases, they are adding functionality to another manufacturers product (car/watch) rather than trying to compete in an area that is not in their sweet spot. So it's not a new product (caveat: if it's a Swatch or Timex, etc). It's Apple adding/integrating their technology within a product in another segment. I had another thought too... what if their patent for iTime (functionality) rather than iWatch (product) points to other manufacturers selling a Swatch or Timex watch "with iTime" functionality? I think this situation would sound wrong if Swatch was including iWatch functionality, but iTime? Maybe sounds right to me. The final similarity is that cars and watches are items of "fashion", and by fashion I mean many shapes, sizes, colours, etc. Hard to dominate a new sector when you're competing with 1000 other products, but by adding their functionality into mass produced products from other brands, they are in fact dominating the functionality segment. Do you really think Google or Windows will follow them into watches the same way? They appear to have the car ecosystem tied up already, even though it's early days for CarPlay. Perhaps getting marketshare and "brandshare" for iTime functionality is much the same? Just my two cents worth (and my last comment). Go crazy! :)