Intel will reportedly become Google's new supplier for the electronic chips used in its Google Glass in 2015.
People familiar with the deal told the Wall Street Journal that the tech giant is dropping its current supplier, Texas Instrument, in favor of Intel. The chipmaker will help Google promote the wearable device to hospitals and other businesses.
Both companies aim to sell Glass as a workplace-computing device, even if it was originally manufactured and marketed as a consumer device. The source said that 5 percent of the Google Glass team is dedicated on Glass at Work, a program that can be used by health care, construction, and manufacturing employees.
Representatives for Google, Intel, and Texas Instrument refused to comment.
"We expect Glass to evolve and be more useful for companies, but it will still be a crossover device for consumers," Eric Johnsen, vice president of business development at APX Labs, which makes Glass software used by manufacturing, oilfield-services and logistics companies, told to the Wall Street Journal .
The partnership of Intel and Google might benefit both companies. Google has been trying to make the Glass appealing to consumers after privacy and safety concerns were raised by its Glass Explorers. Intel, on the other hand, failed to penetrate the mobile device market, so an opportunity to work with Google for its wearable device could be something big for the chipmaker. Google will benefit from Intel as it has a strong consumer base for its desktops, laptops, and servers, according to SlashGear.
Aside from having an Intel chip on the 2015 Glass model, consumers can expect longer battery life compared to the previous model, which last for only a day on standard use and a few hours when recording videos.
Google Glass has earned a bad reputation since its launch, but not from BMW, which uses it for a pilot program to improve the quality control of its pre-series vehicles, Gizmag reported. The Glass has been banned from some cinemas, caused speeding tickets for some wearers, and raised health concerns such as eye fatigue and headaches after wearing it for a long time.
