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Newest wearable technology from Will.i.am unveiled

Julie Campbell | February 26, 2016

The musician and performer has now announced the latest version of his smartwatch, which is voice-activated.

Will.i.am has now announced the latest edition of his wearable technology device, with a voice-activated smartwatch headed to the United Kingdom which, he claims, will rival top options such as the Apple Watch and the Samsung Gear line.

The musician is far from the only one who has stepped into wearables, a category that is struggling for acceptance.

Indeed, wearable technology is growing and there have been some huge names thrown behind it, but many companies and celebrities, including Will.i.am (whose real name is William Adams), have yet to reach the point in which they could genuinely call themselves successful in this area. That said, it looks as though Will.i.am still has a few tech tricks up his sleeve (and around his wrist) as he has now come out with a new voice-activated smartwatch that can send texts and emails, play music, track fitness and allow users to search for information. This particular device also has a front-facing 2 megapixel camera.

This wearable technology stands out from the smartwatches from Apple and Samsung as it doesn’t need a smartphone.

Wearable Technology - Will.i.am Unlike its top rivals in the wearables industry, Will.i.am’s smartwatch doesn’t need to be paired with a smartphone in order to be able to use all its functions. Most smartwatches need to be wirelessly paired to a smartphone in order to send and receive texts, access WiFi and notify the user that a call is coming in. That is not the case, here. This device is powered by 4G by way of a SIM card.

The singer explained that “It is not tethered to a device, it is the device.” He pointed out that “The reason we built the platform this way is that it is for areas you are truly mobile – in the gym, in a car, on a bike, on a hike, areas where the phone really isn’t meant for.” He underscored the fact that while a smartphone is fine in many circumstances, it simply doesn’t fit in others, such as at the gym or while riding a bike through the streets of New York City.

The musician has secured a mobile phone partner in Three, for his wearable technology. The smartwatch will be available in the U.K., starting in early April.

Mobile broadband numbers hit new record as 4G connections break 1 billion mark

Rebecca | February 25, 2016

The developing world has been boosting its speeds and improving the experience for smartphone users.

According to the results of a recent study conducted by the GSMA, the number of global 4G mobile broadband connections has now reached the point that it has broken the 1 billion mark, for the first time.

In fact, the GSMA is now predicting that, by the year 2020, 4G will represent one in three mobile connections.

The results of the study were shared within this year’s global edition of the “Mobile Economy” report series from the GSMA. It suggested that there is currently a rapid change in technology as 3G mobile broadband shifts in favor of 4G networks. Moreover, it pointed out that this trend is occurring in both developed and developing economies. The outcome is that there is a greater drive in smartphone adoption, digital innovation, and in the growth of mobile data.

The report indicate that 2015 saw mobile broadband growth and acceleration that was unprecedented.

4G Mobile Broadband Data from the study suggested that the world economy saw a $3.1 trillion shot in the arm from the mobile industry. This indicates that the share of the global GDP representing that industry is a massive 4.2 percent.

By the close of last year, 4G was behind more than one billion of the total 7.3 billion mobile connections. In fact, that figure means that there was a doubling of the number of 4G connections that were made, last year, greatly because of the expansion of mobile networks at this level, within developing economies. By the time 2015 came to an end, there were 151 different countries with a total of 451 live LTE networks.

According to the GSMA director general, Mats Granryd, “Our new report reveals that mobile broadband is now a truly global phenomenon, extending high-speed connectivity and services to citizens in all corners of the world.” He went on to say that last year’s growth in mobile technology connections was greater than it had ever been, before and was a “testament to the billions of dollars that mobile operators have invested in next-generation networks, services and spectrum in recent years.”