Pebble Technology recently went back to its roots by launching new Kickstarter campaigns for three new devices. The first two devices are smartwatches, namely the Pebble 2 and the Pebble Time 2, and the third one is a cellular-connected wearable device named the Pebble Core.
The Pebble Core clips on to the clothes of wearers and is powered by Google's Android operating system. The device is capable of tracking distance, location and pace through GPS, which is standard for most fitness trackers, while also allowing users to stream music through Spotify, send emergency messages to loved ones and record voice notes, all without requiring to be paired to a smartphone.
None of these are the major draw of Pebble Core though. In a post on the company's official blog, it was revealed that the Pebble Core will be the first standalone wearable device that will integrate Alexa, which is Amazon's highly touted voice assistant technology that is found in the popular Amazon Echo.
"Experiencing Amazon Alexa on-the-go right from Pebble Core is game-changing for wearable technology," said Eric Migicovsky, the CEO of Pebble.
With the announcement of Alexa integration, the list of capabilities of the Pebble Core grew much longer. The wearable device, through Alexa, will now be able to brief users on news headlines from different media outlets, review the summary of the user's Pebble Health information, order deliveries, shop for products on Amazon, control smart home devices, and so much more.
The Pebble Core does not have a microphone though, so users are required to use headphones with a built-in mic to be able to access Alexa's functions.
The integration of Alexa into the Pebble Core is made possible through the wearable device's 3G SIM slot, which provides the Pebble Core with an internet connection that Alexa needs to be able to work without a paired smartphone.
Users looking to be among the first people to get their hands on the Pebble Core can still participate in the device's Kickstarter campaign. The wearable device can be acquired through a pledge of $79 or more, compared to its retail price of $99, with deliveries estimated to begin by January 2017.
