Swatch may not be a fixture in the smartwatch market — but a new project positions the Swiss watch brand as a solution provider for a common issue. Swatch's answer? It's none other than the battery.
Swatch is currently working on a "super battery" that will give smartwatches and cars twice the energy storage they get from other batteries. Swatch's ultimate plan is to create a smartwatch with a six-month battery life on a single charge. The super batteries should be ready for smartwatches set to launch sometime in 2016.
"Whoever brings a battery for a smartwatch to the market that you don't need to charge for six months has a competitive advantage," said Swatch CEO Nick Hayek.
"We're working intensively on this problem with our research group Belenos and battery producer Renata. Next year, we will come to the market with a revolutionary battery, not only for watches for also for automobiles."
Hayek added that the new super battery can also be used in cars. Incidentally, Hayek's father, the late Nicolas Hayek, was a pioneer behind the Smart car technology.
If things go according to plan, Swatch could provide the solution to the lingering battery life problem. It would seem like an overnight fix for the bane of smartwatch existence. At present, the longest-lasting smartwatch on the market is the Pebble — which has a mere three days of battery life. The Apple Watch's battery life famously lasts for only a day. A battery life that could last up to six months would be revolutionary.
Swatch is beginning to find its way into the growing world of smartwatches with the development of its own wearables. Partner manufacturers are assisting the company in creating "smartwatch staples," such as touchscreens and batteries.
The decision to enter a market dominated by the likes of Apple, Samsung, LG and other big names takes business guts and determination. After all, Swatch and other Swiss companies in the watchmaking industry still have a long way to go to catch up to Apple's lead in smart devices.
