Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) Releases Luxury Smart Bracelet

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By Mark Michaels on September 4, 2014 Company, Technology & Software

On Wednesday, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) released its newest wearable device – a high tech and high fashion smart bracelet.

The company formed a partnership with Opening Ceremony, a high fashion luxury fashion house to create the smart bracelet, called MICA. The product’s name stands for My Intelligent Communication Acessory.

The cuff bracelet features a curved touchscreen display screen that measures 1.6 inches and is made of sapphire glass, one of the most durable types of glass on the market. The gadget will be sold in Barney’s stores through the holiday season. Neither Intel nor Barney’s stated the price.

Many wearable smart watches and devices tend to be on the bulky side and anything but discrete, the MICA device was clearly created to fit the wardrobe of someone who valued sleekness and aesthetic design.

According to Aysegul Ildeniz, the vice president of Intel’s Business Development and Strategy team in the New Devices Group, the device was really created to fit the wardrobe of a woman. She also stated that their goal was to make a jewelry piece that women wanted to wear, would love to wear, and would be proud to wear.

Ildeniz also said that even though Intel is a giant technology company, it is important to them that wearable technology must go past the tech space. Intel wanted it to be a product that would blend in seamlessly into their everyday lives, yet still change their lives for the better.

The MICA bracelet has 3G capabilities, and is made to run and operate separately from a smartphone. Some of the bracelet’s abilities include notifications and alerts, such as messages sent directly to the bracelet, calendar reminders, and SMS messaging. The MICA can also be charger via a USB cable or it can be charged wirelessly. According to Ildeniz, more functions and capabilities of the bracelet will be announced before the device goes on sale.

While Intel is responsible for the device’s technology, Opening Ceremony is the main moving force behind the design. The MICA bracelet features two models, both of which contain snakeskin as well as semiprecious stones.

Ildeniz said that from the beginning, the Intel and Opening Ceremoney partnership agreed to the primary belief that the fashion designers should be in control of this project.

Intel is making a bold move to bring itself up to the same level of unexpected partners. Most recently, the tech company formed a partnership with SMS Audio, the consumer electronics company that was founded by 50 Cent. With the help of SMS Audio, Intel released a pair of headphones that were able to measure the user’s heart rate.

While the MICA device will be more of a luxury device, the technology that Intel incorporated in it can be used to make similar smart bracelets that are also fashionable and trendy, but for a lower cost.

Ildeniz pointed out an extremely good point: no one wants a cell phone strapped to their wrists. This device will hopefully be an example of what smart wearable technology can be.