Tag: intel

Intel sets sights on wearable technology

Intel steps into the field of wearable devices with acquisition of Basis Science

Wearable technology has become a hot issue. Technology firms around the world have begun investing in the research and development of smart watches and other sorts of wearable devices that may become popular with consumers in the future. Intel is one such firm, and the company has recently finalized the acquisition of Basis Science, makers of health tracker technologies. Health has become a popular field for wearable devices due to the increasing mobility of consumers. These devices could be helpful for people that want to keep track of information concerning their day-to-day health.

Basis attracts attention from technology firms for its wearable device

Basis suggests that it has been approached by various technology companies in February, all seeking acquisition. Interest from these firms is largely focused on the company’s Basis Health Tracker, which is a watch that keeps track of a user’s heart rate and other information. The watch is the only product that Basis has produced, but it has become quite popular because it exists as a convenient solution for those that are health-oriented.

Intel intends to establish a presence in the emerging wearable device market

Wearable Technology in Sight of Big CompanyIntel has a strong interest in wearable devices because of trends that have begun to emerge among consumers. Google Glass has managed to highlight the interest that consumers have in wearable devices. These augmented reality glasses have generated a great deal of hype and have also shed light on similar products being developed by other technology firms. The demand for smart watches is also on the rise and Intel is keen to ensure that it can establish a noticeable presence in an emerging market.

Wearable devices may not replace smartphones any time soon

Some firms have suggested that wearable devices will eventually replace smartphones and tablets. The issue, however, is that wearable devices are still in a state of infancy. They do not have the technical abilities needed to dethrone smartphones as t he favored mobile device among consumers. In the future, this may change, but wearable devices may currently be little more than a gimmick.

Mobile app development initiative by Intel will support African startups

The massive corporation hopes to intensify its engagement within the continent.

Intel Corporation has recently revealed its intentions to enhance its African engagement by making strategic investments in local startup businesses in order to help to promote software and mobile app development within the region.

The growth of the internet economy in this continent has been considerable and is handing the company an opportunity.

According to the vice president and general manager, EMEA at Intel, Christian Morales, the primary reason behind Intel’s choice to plant its feet more deeply in the local mobile app development is the growth that the online economy is seeing there. He explained that the company is making highly strategic investments of its capital into startup businesses that have been growing their experience over the last three or four years and that now require a “world-wide footprint”.

Investments into these mobile app development businesses will be of a minority nature.

The goal is to allow the startups to have the capital that they require to expand, without actually taking them over. According to Morales, Intel is making this move because “we see the potential in local applications and software in Kenya and other countries in Africa.” This announcement was made alongside the company’s unveiling of its two new microprocessors.Mobile App Development - Africa

Those new microprocessors are a quad-core mobile Atom and a duo-core 64 it Atom. They have been launched with the promise to help to boost the experience for mobile users in terms of performance, speed, and energy consumption. Intel has placed high hopes in this tech in order to give it the power it needs for a more significant share of the mobile market space. The company, said Morales, was encouraged in this arena by the success of its Yolo smartphone, which was released in Nairobi in 2013.

Beyond its intention to invest in African startups, Intel has also shown interest in working with local mobile app development companies through its Developer Zone Program. That program provides local software and application developers with free support and tools by way of training to create their apps based on Intel’s own architecture.