Report: Apple & Intel working on smartwatch - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Report: Apple & Intel working on smartwatch

Apple and Intel are working together to create a Bluetooth-equipped smartwatch in 2013, according to one Chinese technology news source.

Tech site TGbus says the watch would connect to the iPhone, allowing you to remotely operate the phone from your wrist. That means you could send out text messages, answer calls, or even update your Facebook status on the device while your iPhone is in a pocket or charging nearby.

An iPhone-compatible smartwatch is certainly in a high demand. Earlier this year a Kickstarter for the Pebble smartwatch raised over $10 million in funding from 70,000 people who want one of the watches, $500k of that funding raised during the company's first day on Kickstarter's website.

Pebble has yet to ship to customers, but the company is allowing customers who didn't support the Kickstarter to pre-order the watch now for $150.

Another smartwatch, made by Martian, is expected to be available early next year. That watch is designed to look more like traditional watches, adding a small LED screen with users can see texts, as well as notifications from Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail.

The watch can also accept calls, and has Siri-integration.