In an effort to cater to the modern fashion-forward woman who can’t always have her phone with her, Intel is releasing a “intelligent bracelet” designed by Opening Ceremony. The bracelet (which Intel, so far, hasn’t labeled as a smart watch) is named MICA, which is short for – wait for it – “My Intelligent Communications Accessory.”
Yeah.
From one side, MICA looks like a chunky bracelet with a large semi-precious stone embedded into it. From the other, it looks like a chunky bracelet with a screen embedded into it. The accessory features a curved sapphire glass display and 18k gold coating. It also comes in two different hues: black water snake skin with lapis stones and pearls, and white snakeskin with obsidian and tigers eye. Whatever all that means.
“MICA acts as an extension of a customer’s smartphone, for those times when it’s not convenient to carry with you,” said Chris Penrose, AT&T’s senior vice president of emerging devices, in a press release. “It allows customers to receive texts and email notifications so that they can stay connected, while still wearing a fashionable jewelry piece to almost any occasion.”
Unfortunately, the watch so far doesn’t actually connect to the user’s smartphone. The device has it’s own phone number that contacts (or “VIP list,” as the accessory’s contact list is called) have to text specially. And since there’s no on-screen keyboard, the MICA wearer can only text back one of about 50 pre-set messages.
MICA has its own built-in 3G wireless, and although there’s no keyboard, it can receive Gmail and Facebook notifications, access the user’s Google calendar and use TomTom and Yelp to reveal nearby restaurants and their ratings.
The bracelet can be set to send its wearer TTG (Time to Go) notifications based on how far away she is from an appointment location.
The device has a fairly long battery life for wearable devices – up to 48 hours – and is charged via micro-USB. The price is listed at $495, which includes a two-year data plan from AT&T.
MICA will be available in early December (just in time for Christmas!), exclusively at Opening Ceremony stores in New York and Los Angeles, select Barneys New York locations and online at the Opening Ceremony and Barneys websites.
For some idea of what MICA looks like in action, here’s a promotional video of Rashida Jones (Ann from Parks and Rec) as a high-powered executive whose MICA helps her juggle her busy (and fun!) life:
Screenshot via Youtube
