Last month, Apple filed for the iWatch trademark in several countries. Though the company has been keeping its plans under the radar, there’s been many rumors regarding the design and technology behind the smartwatch. There was even an iPhone 5 ad that subtly hinted at the iWatch when it showed a person wearing what the highly-anticipated device would actually look like. The latest news is that Apple has acquired the Silicon Valley-based Passif Semiconductor, a company that specializes in low-power communication chips that could be used in devices such as Apple’s progressing iWatch.

Apple declined to comment on the acquisition. Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette said in a statement, “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

Apple has submitted application trademarks in countries such as Mexico, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey and Colombia. With Apple filing for a trademark in several countries and now acquiring a company that could assist them with a chip that would help the product’s battery life last much longer, there’s no question that a wearable device is on the horizon.

Bruce Tognazzini, a former employee at Google and technology consultant, wrote in a blog post, “The iWatch will fill a gaping hole in the Apple ecosystem. It will facilitate and coordinate not only the activities of all the other computers and devices we use, but a wide array of devices to come. Like other breakthrough Apple products, its value will be underestimated at launch, then grow to have a profound impact on our lives and Apple’s fortunes.”

Mark Gurman at 9-to-5 Mac added predicted some details about the watch, saying, “The product will likely include sensors to gain data about the user in addition to functionality, such as mapping, messaging, and phone apps, that could interact with iOS Devices such as the iPad or iPhone,”

Two anonymous sources told the New York Times that the watch would feature curved glass. Bloomberg also reported that the iWatch team consists of roughly 100 people, including a handful that have previously worked on the iPhone and iPad.

Some rumors believe that the iWatch will debut later this year, while others believe it will launch in the second half of 2014.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has successfully predicted Apple launches and product details, believes the iWatch will launch in 2014. “Apple may not have adequate resources to develop an iWatch version of iOS because it may require big changes to iPhone and iPad iOS this year. In addition, wearable device components aren’t mature. For these reasons, we think mass production of the iWatch is more likely to begin in 2014, not 2013 as the market speculates.”