Google Reportedly Acquired WIMM Labs, a Smartwatch Maker - Is Android Being Tailored for Your Wrist?

Google has reportedly admitted it bought WIMM Labs last year, signaling its possible interest in wearable computing that goes on your wrist, not your face.

WIMM Labs is a company that made the WiMM One concept smartwatch, which ran an early version of Android, before it shut down its own operations about two years ago, saying it had entered into a mysterious exclusive partnership. Now we know that it was a partnership with Google.

Google's acquisition of WIMM Labs, according to an anonymous source to GigaOM, was an effort to acquire the talent of at least some of WIMM Labs' staff. At least some of the small company's staff stayed on and joined Google. But this doesn't necessarily mean that Google is working on a smartwatch (rumors have it that they are, in any case). WIMM Labs' employees are reportedly working with the Android team.

Perhaps more interesting than developing a smartwatch - which Google Android OEMs like Sony and Samsung are already doing - is the idea that WIMM Labs is helping Google tailor Android so that it will work across all devices. According to TechCrunch, Google CEO Larry Page has said before that Android is "pretty transportable across devices," hinting at, if not a full-on reality of Android, then a pretty clear goal. And that's what WIMM Labs' particular work seems to support.

When WIMM created the WIMM One in 2011, it was a smartwatch concept powered by Android 2.1, which had a tiny 667MHz processor, 256MB of RAM, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

But what WIMM Labs did that was interesting was launch a developer program for the smartwatch that let third-party developers make "micro apps" for the One. Those are applications for wearable computing devices that are meant to work independently - using the smartwatch as a true platform and not just a second screen for your smartphone. Though it's not confirmed, what Google might be doing with its WIMM Labs acquisition a few years ago - moving the small company's talent into the Android department - is to develop a kind of smartwatch Android that makes the smartwatch more than just a notifications box and music player.

Though Sony has already created two smartwatches, all eyes are on Android OEM Samsung in Berlin next week, when the South Korean company plans to unveil their new phablet, the Galaxy Note 3, and a new smartwatch accessory called Galaxy Gear on Sept. 4. Meanwhile, very little is known about Apple's iWatch effort, with few obvious developments taking place in the past few months.