Snap spins off Specs Inc, Spectacles smart glasses will launch later this year

"The company is spinning off Specs Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary. It says that this move will provide "greater operational focus and alignment" with the new market segment. Snap plans to remain the majority shareholder but says there is a potential for outside investments and partnerships. This will also offer a clearer valuation of the smart glasses business since it won't be entangled with the company's social network business."

"Anyway, the glasses, called Spectacles, are coming later this year and will be used for work and play. Snap envisions that you will use the glasses on your own and in groups (be it with family or coworkers) to learn in a simulated environment or review a virtual design of a new product. The core of this will be the "first-of-its-kind Intelligence System" that is said to understand the world around you and will offer more interactivity with voice and gesture controls."

"Interestingly, Snap is trying to position this as a green initiative - it says that many real-world objects will be replaced by virtual ones, e.g. whiteboards and TVs, as well as toys. And as consumers need fewer physical goods, there will be less e-waste produced - electrons are infinitely recyclable! This sounds good, but we're not sure how practical it is - yes, Spectacles can replace a whiteboard (but how much waste does a whiteboard create, anyway?)."

Snap is creating Specs Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, to separate its smart glasses business from its social network operations while retaining majority ownership. The move allows potential outside investment and partnerships and aims to provide clearer valuation and operational focus for the new market segment. Spectacles will launch later this year for work and play, supporting solo and group uses such as simulated learning and virtual product reviews. The device centers on a "first-of-its-kind Intelligence System" that understands surroundings and enables voice and gesture controls. Snap positions the product as reducing physical goods and e-waste, though practical effectiveness depends on display quality and user adoption.

Read at GSMArena.com