One of Switzerland's best known watchmakers, Swatch, is seeking to push forward the boundaries of timepiece technology with a new joint development deal with Japan's Sega Enterprises.

One of Switzerland's best known watchmakers, Swatch, is seeking to push forward the boundaries of timepiece technology with a new joint development deal with Japan's Sega Enterprises.

Swatch and Sega, the world's third largest video-game console maker, want to develop jointly a new service linking a watch to Sega's Dreamcast video game console.

This new project plans to use the Swatch Access model, which has a built-in memory chip that gives it reading and writing capabilities. It will be updated with wireless communications features allowing it to receive data and messages sent via the Internet from Dreamcast game consoles.

Last December, Swatch had indicated it was working on an accord with the United States group, Hewlett-Packard, for an Internet watch.

Swatch also revealed it was working on an 'e-watch' with electronic mail, Internet access, telepayment and data applications.

From staff and wire reports

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