Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) announced Thursday it will be making a substantial investment in Recon Instrument, which is a rival to Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass. The investment from Intel will be utilized by Recon in product development, marketing and global sales expansion, according to the chip maker.
Recon will also “benefit from Intel Capital’s expertise in manufacturing, operations and technology,” according to the company.
Recon numbers exceeds Google’s
Recon has shipped more Jet headsets than Google Glass. Google Glass is accessible to only a few thousand Glass fans and comes with a high price tag of $1500. Recon said that it offers “the world’s most advanced wearable computer.” The price of Recon Jet remains at $599, but Recon announced today a $100 discount to celebrate the new Intel Capital partnership.
Mike Bell, general manager of New Devices Group at Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), said in a statement that Recon has exhibited compelling technology and solid strategy on the wearable front. Recon Instrument is a dominating player in heads up display for sport, which includes the product like the Recon Jet.
Mike Bell said, “Wearable computing is a major, accelerating phenomenon that re-defines how we use and interact with information.”
According to the statement, the headgear maker has sold more than 50,000 heads-up displays globally along with a “successful campaign” in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) retail stores.
Intel plans to compete with Google, ARM, Qualcomm
Prior to this, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) also made an investment in Thalmic Labs in June, and announced a Quark series of chips for wearables.
Intel is looking forward to competing with ARM, which is dominating the chip market for small gadgets.
Recon Jet specifications
The specifications of the 28 gram Recon jet are a dual-core 1 GHz processor, Wi-Fi, ANT+ for device communications, Bluetooth, GPS, an HD camera and an HD display, and many sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter, magnetometer, and thermometer.
Recon is gearing up to launch another version next year. Recon has made Jets for high-level athletes or professionals like doctors who need instant information. The device will run well in rain or snow, and is easy to use even when wearing gloves.
