Intel boosts wearables and IoT portfolio with Recon Instruments buy

All eyes on wearables and the IoT

Intel has announced the purchase of Recon Instruments, a firm that makes smart glasses for sports enthusiasts and workers in "high-intensity environments".

Josh Walden, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's New Technology Group, said that Recon is already covered by Intel Capital and that the relationship is tried and tested.

"We've got to know and admire their products and people over the last couple of years. This acquisition gives Intel a talented, experienced wearable computing team that will help us expand the market for head-mounted display products and technologies," he said.

"Customers and retailers of Recon products can rest assured [that Recon will] continue selling, enhancing and marketing [its] products under the Recon brand without disruption.

"The team will also partner with Intel's New Devices Group to develop smart device platforms for a broader set of customers and market segments."

The purchase was prompted by increasing interest in wearable technology, and Walden said that Recon will form part of Intel's plans to make the most of the burgeoning market.

"The growth of wearable technology is creating a new playing field for innovation, and we've made tremendous strides in developing products and technologies to capture this next wave of computing," he added.

Recon said that its close ties with Intel will give the firm and its technologies room to grow. "This acquisition has placed Recon in a uniquely advantageous position," said Dan Eisenhardt, Recon co-founder and chief executive.

"We'll continue leading the smart eyewear category for sports, and we'll be able to bring our technology and innovation to completely new markets and use cases where activity-specific information, delivered instantly, can change the game. The team and I couldn't be more enthusiastic."

Recon wearable devices could be seen as a sporty version of Google Glass, but Google may not be the best yardstick against which to measure smart glasses.

The search firm invested heavily in the technology and achieved some success, but Glass sales fell off earlier this year and the company canned the product temporarily. However, recent job adverts suggest an imminent return.