If you're
like most Americans, you don't wear a wristwatch. But a growing number
of electronics companies are betting you'll slap one on your wrist if
it's more like a smartphone than a simple timepiece.
Over the past
year, Sony and local startup Pebble have released devices called
"smartwatches" because they take on some of the functions of a
smartphone. In the near future, those devices will be joined by many
others including, if the rumors are true,
Apple's (
AAPL) much buzzed about iWatch.
But just what is a smartwatch and why would anyone want one?
At
least as they exist today, smartwatches are accessories to smartphones.
Some have touch screens and run apps, but they're designed mainly to
allow users to interact with or view information from their phones.
Instead of having their own connection to the Internet, they connect to
users' smartphones via Bluetooth.
Smartwatches deliver
notifications, telling users when they've received text and email
messages, showing the caller ID for incoming calls and alerting users to
new
Facebook or
Twitter post.
They also allow users to control apps on their phones. Users can answer calls and start playing their music or fast
forward to the next song by
tapping buttons on their smartwatch. And working with apps and sensors
on the phone, they can allow users to keep track of their workouts,
showing the distance run or time elapsed.
Oh, and they also tell time.
But, you might note, you can already do all of these things with your smartphone. Why would you need another device?
The answer, advocates and analysts say, is that there are times when it's easier to simply glance at a watch than to interact
with your phone.
Say
you're listening to music on your phone while running and want to jump
to the next song. Instead of pulling out your phone, waking it up and
finding the music controls -- a difficult proposition while you're
jogging along -- you could simply press a button or two on your
wristwatch. Or say you are in a meeting, but want to know if your spouse
calls or messages you. Glancing at a watch might be less obtrusive or
rude than constantly staring at your smartphone.
"There are folks
out there that are tied to their phone; their phone is their life," said
Angela McIntyre, an analyst who covers the wearable technology market
for technology research firm Gartner. "Being able to have a second
screen for your phone on your wrist, so you don't have
to take out your smartphone and do things with it when it's
inconvenient, could be useful for them."
And soon, smartwatches
may do a lot more. Both Sony and Pebble are encouraging software
developers to make apps for their devices. Already, owners can play
simple games on Sony's gadget or use it as a remote control for their
smartphone's camera.
In the future, smartwatches may even replace
smartphones by including cellular and Wi-Fi radios. Those would allow
users to make and receive calls or send messages directly through their
watches without having to carry around a phone. And they could allow
users to unlock the doors of their car or set their home alarm with just
their watch.
"What you do on a phone now or a tablet now,
ultimately, you can do most or all of those on a watch," said Marshal
Cohen, who covers the watch industry as the chief retail analyst at
market research firm NPD Group.
Some early adopters find
smartwatches useful. Cupertino voice actor Dana Marks said he ordered a
Pebble because he thought it would be less distracting and annoying to
receive notifications on it than the audible dings his smartphone made.
With
the Pebble, "I don't have to keep pulling my phone out of my pocket and
unlocking it to see what's going on," said Marks, 67.
San
Francisco resident Julie Price, a distance running coach and health game
developer, said she got interested in the Pebble because of its
potential as a fitness watch. Price, 39, says she now wears her Pebble
all the time, whether she's running or not. One of the things she loves
about it is its caller ID feature.
"I first thought that was so
silly -- you can't take your phone out of your pocket?" she said. "But
it's really, really helpful."
Of course, not everyone is
enthusiastic about smartwatches or the potential demand for them.
Americans largely gave up wearing wristwatches when they started using
cellphones, noted NPD's Cohen. Convincing them to wear a watch again --
or, for younger consumers, for the first time -- may take some effort.
Their
appeal is also likely to be limited because they are smartphone
accessories rather than independent devices. Not everyone with a
smartphone will buy or even want an extra device to carry around,
analysts note.
And for now, few consumers see a real need to have
one. Technology research firm IDC recently surveyed consumers,
assessing their interest in various smartwatch features. Not one of the
features registered strong interest from more than 15 percent of
consumers.
"In terms of level of interest, that's incredibly low," said Jonathan Gaw, a consumer technology analyst at IDC.
Contact Troy Wolverton at 408-840-4285. Follow him at Twitter.com/troywolv.
Not your grandfather's Timepiece
What is a smartwatch?
While
its functions may change in the future, for now it's a wristwatch that
allows users to interact with and control their smartphones.
What can you do with it?
Receive
alerts for things like incoming text messages and emails; see the
caller ID for incoming calls; control certain smartphone apps, including
music players; and track workouts.
Who's offering them?
For
now, there are only a handful, notably from Sony and local startup
Pebble. But many more are expected to come on the market over the next
year or so, including, potentially, models from Samsung, Google and
Apple.
How much do they cost?
Sony's SmartWatch sells for around $90. The Pebble watch costs $150. Models of the MetaWatch start at $130.
