HP’s partnership with a luxury watchmaker Movado has been around for almost a year now. The partnership has produced a number of designs, which combine HP’s smartwatch platform with the design expertise of another company. HP, in common with some other technology companies such as Intel, recognize that whilst they may have the engineering know-how to produce a smart platform, do now have the same design abilities in-house. This week HP has announced that its partnership with Movado Group is to introduce a new line of smart analogue watches from a range of trendy, big design name companies: Coach, Hugo Boss, Ferrari, Tommy Hilfiger and Juicy Couture.
These watches will use HP’s existing platform, which works with many modern iPhone and Android devices running iOS 8.0 or Android 4.4 and higher. The platform includes notification alerts passed through from the host smartphone, including calls, text messages, emails and instant messages. Given HP’s expertise in business, the company also promote that their platform can accept reminders from multiple calendars, ensuring busy professionals are always reminded of where they need to be next. Movado’s existing watches feature two ways to alert the wearer of a notification: there’s the vibration from the watch combined with an illuminated LED, which varies by design. The watch platform also includes support for activity tracking, in common with many other smartwatch companies. The HP smartwatches use two power sources: the analogue watch functionality is powered by a traditional coin-sized battery, whereas the smart side of the watch uses an internal rechargeable battery with life quoted as being up to seven days, depending on the data throughput from the smartphone.
The new watches will follow Movado’s established product line. They will all be constructed of stainless steel and feature water resistance. The overall range will encompass watches of different sizes to suit both men and women of all different shapes and sizes. Each will include the vibration alert function and either a discrete OLED display or LED notification alert, too, depending on the brand. Watches from Coach, Hugo Boss, Ferrari and Tommy Hilfiger will use the OLED display screen, but the Juicy Couture watches will use a LED notification light. As for pricing, this varies from $195 up to $325, depending on the model in question. These new designs will be available from October from HP direct or certain retailers, including Macy’s and Nordstrom.