Snap expands US$2,200 Specs glasses with AI, enterprise and Verizon services
The company is adding entertainment integrations, augmented-reality basketball training and cellular connectivity as it seeks to define a market for its high-priced smart glasses.
Snap has announced a suite of new features and services for its US$2,200 Specs smart glasses, positioning the device as a wearable computer for entertainment, artificial-intelligence-assisted tasks and workplace use.
At an event in Los Angeles, the company announced integrations with HBO Max and Spotify, as well as Specs Intelligence, which Snap describes as an “anticipatory AI” system. The system is designed to connect with selected applications and devices, including iPhones and Macs, and use information from those tools to help users manage goals, priorities and routines.
Snap also introduced Specs for Enterprise, a programme aimed at integrating the glasses into corporate workflows. Partnerships announced by the company include Amazon, Salesforce and Nvidia. A demonstration showed an IT technician repairing hardware with assistance from the glasses, while Snap said it is developing mobile-device management and security controls for enterprise deployments.
A separate experience developed with the NBA and WNBA will use augmented reality to support basketball practice and help users improve their shooting. Snap also announced a Verizon connectivity package for using Specs away from Wi-Fi. The package includes a charging case with built-in cellular connectivity and will cost US$10 a month for Verizon customers or US$20 for non-customers.
Specs debuted earlier this year and drew negative online reaction, according to TechCrunch. Snap plans to open a Specs pop-up in Los Angeles in October, with the glasses expected to begin shipping later this autumn. The company has not provided a precise shipping date or specified markets, while consumer demand and the practical reach of Specs Intelligence and the enterprise offering remain unproven.
