Although the wearable technology hasn’t been confirmed by the tech giant, it could be a meaningful play.
If rumors are correct, then Microsoft will be the next giant to enter into the smartwatch marketplace, with the Surface Watch to be released at some point, likely this year.
The technology news to watch will be the importance of this play in the overall market.
At the moment, there are already a large number of smartwatch devices that have made their way into the market, and there is more than a handful ready to launch before the end of the summer. This can make it very challenging for any single device to stand out and for later additions to carve their way into an already crowded ecosystem. That said, among this considerable crowd of devices, it seems to have been missed that there are very few apps for wearables, which makes it difficult to build a solid appeal for mainstream customers.
Without the apps, it is challenging to show consumers that a smartwatch is worth the added expense.
A recent BI Intelligence report suggested that the entire wearables app ecosystem is experiencing some significant fragmentation. The cause of this problem is that every new device that is added to the marketplace runs on a platform that is shared by very few others. As of yet, there is little standard in the experience provided by smart gadgets.
Without a dominant operating system or two, or three, it makes it difficult for mobile app developers to come up with a pool of applications that is sizeable enough to make it worthwhile for the average consumer to drop a few hundred dollars on a device that is essentially a nifty accessory to go with his or her smartphone and/or tablet.
That said, BI Intelligence pointed out that Microsoft may be able to stand out from among much of its competition by providing a smartwatch that is not limited in that way. Instead, it could provide cross-platform functionality so that it would function with both Android and iOS platforms as well as with the Xbox One and with desktop PCs.
The software giant is now setting up to create and launch its own wearable technology device.
According to a recent report from Forbes, a Microsoft smartwatch may be one of the next entrants into the wearable technology marketplace, and this device will likely be able to sync will a range of different devices, including those based on Windows Phone (of course), as well as those based on Android and iOS.
The launch of these wearables could be released as soon as this summer, said the report.
The initial reports and rumors on the Microsoft smartwatch suggest that it will include a number of fitness tracking functions, such as being able to monitor the wearer’s heart rate. The Forbes report indicated that this information came from “multiple sources with knowledge of the company’s plans.” While it does appear that a summer release is planned, the specific date has not yet been revealed.
It has been speculated that the physical appearance of the Microsoft smartwatch may resemble the Gear Fit.
The look of the new wearable mobile device could be similar to the Samsung competition in that it would offer a touch screen in full color that would be worn on the inside of the wrist. The battery is expected to last two days on a full charge, which is also comparable to the Gear Fit. This device should be able to monitor heart rate throughout the length of the day, said Forbes’ sources.
That said the Forbes report also stated that an official spokesperson from Microsoft stated that the company did not have any information to share at this time. Other media outlets were also told that the software giant was not prepared to make any immediate comment on the matter.
Should the report’s information actually be accurate, then it would mean that the Microsoft smartwatch would be only the latest in a rapidly growing range of large tech players who are working their way into the wearables space. Sony and Samsung have already released more than one generation of their devices, smaller participants such as Pebble have managed to lead the way with their own versions of the technology, and others like Motorola and LG have revealed that theirs are on the way. The iWatch from Apple remains a highly anticipated rumor.
