Sony have done it, Google are at it and Samsung have just got to grips with it.
But now, it looks like mobile-only maker, HTC, are looking to get in on the wearable tech action, deemed by experts to be the ‘next big thing’.
Yes folks, a HTC wearable device, is part of the Taiwanese giants’ plan to make 2014 a better year than last,
where profits hit a wall, sales dived 30%, despite releasing what many say was the best smartphone of 2013, One.
The company has been looking at the wearables market for some time, and now believes it has cracked the challenges associated with their development, namely battery and screen, Chang Chialin, HTC CFO and head of global sales, told Bloomberg.
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| Pictured: Amicov smart bracelet |
“Many years ago we started looking at smartwatches and wearables, but we believe that we really have to solve the battery problems and the LCD light problems.”
“We feel positive and optimistic about 2014 when compared to 2013.”
A HTC wearable device will be available by the end of this year, HTC Chair, Cher Wang indicated.
The phone giant may be on the right track.
10 million wearables devices including smartwatches, fitness devices and Google Glass are likely to sell this year globally, analysts predict, forecast to surpass 100 million by 2020.
“While there has been much uncertainty around wearables this year we predict that consumer interest will lead to a lucrative market with US$3 billion in sales in smart glasses, watches, and fitness band,” says Deloitte Australia’s TMT leader Stuart Johnston.
“In Australia alone we anticipate 20% of 17-75 year olds will own a wearable by August this year.”
Smartwatches like Samsung Galaxy Gear are used in conjunction with smartphones by the same name, so is a complementary device.
This may be an extra pull for the consumer towards a HTC phone, especially if Apple releases an iWatch.
HTC Chair also pledged to ramp up its marketing spend this year and has already hired actor Robert Downey to steer the ship.
