“When you’re not in smartwatches right this moment, particularly as a conventional watch producer, then we’re the way in which that you simply get the best product on your buyer.”
That is how Steve Prokup, co-founder of Mijo Related, described the agency’s enterprise, and it has me critically intrigued and enthusiastic about the way forward for smartwatches. I spoke to Prokup over a video name throughout CES 2024, and though you in all probability haven’t heard of Mijo Related, and it seemingly gained’t be a reputation on an precise product you’ll purchase sooner or later both, that doesn’t imply you need to ignore it. Right here’s why.
Choosing up the place Fossil left off
Prokup has appreciable expertise on the planet of wearables, having labored as head of {hardware} at Pebble earlier than heading to Fossil, the place he labored as vp of engineering and senior vp of linked gadgets. Mijo Related’s different co-founder is Hai Nguyen, who additionally labored at Fossil on product administration and analysis and growth initiatives. It’s maybe not a shock that the corporate retains a reference to Fossil, as Prokup informed me.
“We aren’t a part of Fossil. However we’re pursuing an identical path and do have entry to among the Fossil expertise,” he stated befoe including that he was unable to develop additional on precisely what that meant. It’s, nonetheless, a powerful signal of how critically Mijo Related takes smartwatches, because it makes full sense to proceed leveraging the expertise of a longtime watch and smartwatch maker.
So, what’s Mijo Related, and why do you have to care? It plans to construct a wearable gadget platform that some very acquainted vogue and luxurious manufacturers will finally put their names on, permitting them to convey out fascinating, distinctive, and trendy smartwatches that even have the best expertise and software program to again up the seems.
If that appears like a well-known technique, it’s not dissimilar to how Fossil launched smartwatches with associate manufacturers like Diesel, Kate Spade, and Skagen. Nevertheless, it has not too long ago stepped again from such ventures, and Mijo Related is primed to fill that area.
Smartwatches for vogue and luxurious manufacturers
“Our platform allows our prospects to shortly launch fully differentiated merchandise. So, for instance, a model needs to launch a smartwatch. They don’t need some generic app — it must be their title. It has to have their branding, their fashion. Identical factor for the watch, proper? It’s acquired to seem like a watch from that exact firm. That’s that’s what our platform does.” defined Prokup.
“The underlying platform has a unique ID, so the looks of the watch, the watch case, the strap, the whole lot is totally designed by [the brand] as a result of they normally have excellent design groups that know implement their model’s fashion. The identical factor with the app and even the info within the cloud.” he continued.
Mijo Related will convey its trade experience to manufacturers that wish to launch smartwatches (and, sooner or later, different linked cellular gadgets like wi-fi earbuds and sensible audio system), however don’t wish to spend money on constructing partnerships with software program firms, producers, after which studying the exhausting means make a product that’s consultant of the model. Mijo Related will do all this as an alternative and can convey an enormous quantity of customization together with it, too, in keeping with Prokup:
“We’ve got a really related method to how conventional watches are manufactured, the place the motion is wrapped in several designs and completely different watch instances. We will go to a premium titanium case, we are able to put pavé [a reference to jewels set into a bezel or case] on it, or go to chrome steel and different alloys, or to plastic. If anyone needs a lower cost level plastic case with a silicone strap, that can be accessible from our platform,” he defined.
The extent of the customization and individualization supplied has meant Mijo Related is speaking to each vogue and luxurious manufacturers about working collectively, together with some luxurious manufacturers which have already launched a smartwatch previously. However what in regards to the software program that may run on these new smartwatches?
What in regards to the software program?
At CES, Mijo Related launched its smartwatch platform with software program firm MicroEJ (which is pronounced as Micro Edge) and revealed that it’ll use MicroEJ’s Vee Put on working system sooner or later. Whilst you might not instantly know the title, you could have already used MicroEJ’s platform on a wearable, because it has powered smartwatches made by Polar over the previous couple of years.
I additionally spoke to Semir Haddad, chief product and technique officer at MicroEJ, throughout CES 2024. He talked in regards to the significance of full customization on the software program aspect too, so manufacturers could make the gadget their very own. He additionally revealed that one of many firm’s strengths is in how its expertise makes it straightforward to adapt Put on OS apps to run on a non-Put on OS smartwatch. It’s working with a wide range of completely different names already, plus it has struck a partnership with the Facer app to offer completely different watch faces.
Vee Put on has low energy calls for, however that doesn’t have an effect on efficiency. Each of those are long-term points on low-cost smartwatches that will have put some vogue manufacturers off previously. Vee Put on smartwatches may even work with each Android and iOS telephones, offering extra flexibility. Does this imply Mijo Related gained’t present an possibility for a Put on OS smartwatch and is barely working with MicroEJ?
“MicroEJ are an important associate,” stated Prokup, “however we have now a platform accessible for an RTOS watch, in addition to a platform that we’re engaged on for Put on OS.” The selection of software program choices reveals the way it’s protecting all smartwatch customization necessities exterior of the bodily design.
When are the watches coming?
Smartwatches for the time being are actually dominated by three most important fashions — the Apple Watch Collection 9, the Google Pixel Watch 2, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 — that are all wonderful, however will not be at all times what somebody who likes conventional watches or vogue watches needs. Mijo Related is thrilling as a result of it’s working to fill the hole available in the market that was left considerably open by Fossil, permitting manufacturers that wish to make a smartwatch to not need to go all-in and turn into a tech firm.
The corporate could also be new, nevertheless it brings appreciable expertise with it — and sure already has a good suggestion of what works and what doesn’t when making a branded smartwatch. That ought to give confidence to firms that will have prevented a linked product previously.
So, when does Prokup anticipate the primary fashions to reach?
“We don’t have locked-down launch dates, however as you recognize, on this area, [the fourth quarter] is huge for everyone,” Prokup hinted earlier than including: “We’re engaged on a big launch with a model.”
Mijo Related will largely be the corporate behind the smartwatches and might not be a reputation you’ll hear until you’re “within the know.” However Prokup additionally talked about it could have a small product launch of its personal, though not beneath the Mijo Related title, sooner or later.
This may give us an important thought of what to anticipate from its smartwatches sooner or later and simply how transformative they may very well be. This may additionally occur in an trade presently managed by a choose few tech manufacturers that traditionally haven’t catered properly to vogue and watchmakers. If all goes the way in which Mijo Related is hoping, it might very properly change the smartwatch market without end.
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