Google will team up with LG to build its first smartwatch, according to several reports over the weekend.
As with its Nexus Android smartphones, Google will come up with a smartwatch software platform whilst manufacturers like LG handle the hardware.
According to The Wall Street Journal’s sources, LG may not be the only manufacturer involved in the Android smartwatch project. It’s simply the first to be confirmed.
LG’s involvement was also reported by CNET, which also made predictions relating to the timing of the project. It seems as if Google will reveal initial details concerning its smartwatch operating system in March, whilst the LG-made smartwatch itself will be announced in June at Google I/O.
This news and release time frame was also confirmed over on the @evleaks Twitter account, which adds a further layer of credibility.
Indeed, LG itself has confirmed that it is working on a smartwatch that will work with smartphones from multiple manufacturers, not just LG’s own.
It’s believed that Google’s smartwatch OS will be built around Google Now, the voice-recognising smart assistant software that’s currently accessible in different forms through Android phones and Google Glass.
News of this partnership leaks at a time when LG’s biggest rival Samsung has announced two new smartwatches that don’t run on the Android OS. Rather, the Samsung Gear 2 and Samsung Gear 2 Neo use the open source (and Samsung-backed) Tizen OS.
Then there are the persistent rumours of Apple’s iWatch, which could also see release some time this year.
Read More: 5 reasons why smartwatches are still a dumb idea
