Intel’s own smartwatch: the Basis Peak

Intel has decided to join the push into the wearables market, revealing a sneak peek of its own smartwatch, the Basis Peak.

Intel bought Basis in March, a company that has previously released a smart health tracker band for $150, which features sensors for heart rate, motion, calorie expenditure, perspiration and skin temperature, alongside the ability to monitor sleep patterns.

At Intel’s Developer Forum, head of new device group Mike Bell showed a single image of the Basis Peak – oddly highlighting the rear of the smartwatch and its sensors, rather than the front.

Bell joked that “the back of our device looks even better than the front of others”.

Bell added that the Basis technology isn’t limited to exercise sensors, saying “it’s proven through scientific studies that its sleep pattern tracking is actually accurate”.

Intel said the Basis Peak would be available in time for Christmas, but gave no other details about the smartwatch.

Fashion forward

Bell stressed – and others from Intel did the same repeatedly throughout the day – that wearables must consider fashion as well as technology.

“We know how to do technology, we know we don’t know how to do fashion,” he said. He added that rather than a device screaming “I have technology” it must “look fashionable”. Bell and a panel of partners at the session pointed out that such devices need to better target women – something tech firms have failed to do so far.

The Basis Peak isn’t the first Intel wearable. The company last week revealed the $1,000 MICA smart bracelet, a collaboration with jewellery maker Opening Ceremony. CEO Brian Krzanich said of the launch at New York Fashion Week: “If there was an award for the worst-dressed person at Fashion Week, I would have got it.”

Intel has also talked up its collaboration with Fossil, a major watch and fashion brand in the US. The company has suggested a smartwatch is in the works, but more details or a launch date haven’t been revealed.