Google to launch Android Wear later this year

Google Inc said on Tuesday that smartwatches based on its Android mobile software will be available later this year, significantly expanding the Internet company’s push into the nascent market for wearable devices.

Google said it was partnering with several consumer electronics and technology companies, including Samsung Electronics Co, LG Electronics and Intel Corp, as well as with fashion company Fossil Group to develop the new line of watches.

Google said the effort to extend Android to watches is called Android Wear.

“We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology,” Google said in a post on its official blog on Tuesday. “That’s why we’re so excited about wearables—they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word.”

A video posted on Google’s blog showed people speaking into their watches to check sports scores, control music, send replies to text messages and even open their home garages.

Google’s Android operating system is used in more than three out every four smartphones sold worldwide.

The world’s No.1 Internet search engine, Google has also been developing Google Glass, a small stamp-sized screen attached to a pair of eyeglass frames.

Shares of Google were up 1 percent at $1204.66 in midday trading on Tuesday.