Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) yesterday said that its upcoming smartwatch would come with a voice recognition feature, while South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc unveiled new smartwatches with upgraded functions and designs.
The moves indicate handset makers have stepped up their drive to diversify from the saturated smartphone sector to other smart devices, as they aim to lead an increasingly competitive market for wearable devices.
At a media briefing in Taipei, Asustek chief executive Jerry Shen (沈振來) said that the company’s ZenWatch smartwatch, which is due for launch on Wednesday next week in Germany ahead of the IFA electronics trade show, is set to pack English-enabled voice recognition when it goes on sale in October.
Chinese language support for the watch’s voice control is expected by the end of this year, depending on Asustek’s third-party developer of the feature, Shen said.
The smartwatch is to cost less than US$199 when it hits stores in the US and other selected markets beginning in October, he added.
Asustek aims to be the top smartphone maker in the local market for the rest of the year, after selling more than 550,000 of its ZenFone series handsets locally between June and this month.
Shen said the company’s global smartphone shipments would beat its target of 2.6 million units for this quarter and continue to grow to 4 million units next quarter.
Asustek chief financial officer David Chang (張偉明) said its smartphone business could turn profitable next month and into next quarter.
While Asustek’s ZenWatch is reportedly designed to be used alone or paired with Android phones to enable more functions, Samsung’s Gear S is its first smartwatch able to make stand-alone telephone calls with built-in 3G connectivity, alongside Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities.
Users will be able to make and receive calls directly from their wrist, or get calls forwarded from their smartphones, the company said, adding that the Gear S is set to start selling in October.
It did not give details on pricing or where it will be available.
Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, has been pushing hard to develop the wearable devices market, as it looks to counter slowing earnings in its mobile division, which led to weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings.
Samsung is hardly alone in pushing wearables, which have yet to catch on with consumers.
Rival Apple Inc is expected to launch a device this year and LG yesterday announced its new G Watch R smartwatch, with a circular plastic OLED screen, a stainless steel frame and leather strap.
Prices are to be disclosed when the device hits key markets early in the fourth quarter, the company said.
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