Lithuanian high-tech company group Teltonika has launched the production of TeltoHeart, a multifunctional smart medical wristband designed to help people with heart rhythm problems.

According to the creators of the innovative device, it is a unique gadget globally in terms of its technical capabilities.

The idea to produce such a device came to Arvydas Paukštys, the founder of IoT company Teltonika, about three years ago when he read an article in the media about the fact that Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) scientists, together with representatives of Vilnius University, had developed a highly accurate algorithm for detecting atrial fibrillation. Teltonika agreed with KTU and VU to license this unique and patented technology, but this was just the beginning of a long road.

The project was undertaken by a team of more than 15 people from Teltonika Telemedic, founded at the height of the pandemic. To create a working product, the first step was to implement the algorithm, set up the software, create the design of the wristband and certificate the product. After many days spent perfecting the functions of TeltoHeart, Teltonika launched the mass production of this medical wristband in Lithuania. The first products will go to foreign markets such as India, Cyprus, Spain and Peru, and some of them will stay in Lithuania, where several private medical institutions have already expressed their interest in testing these medical wristbands.

“Around 1 billion people globally suffer from various heart rhythm disorders. Such ailments can be treated most effectively if diagnosed in time, and smart devices are already helping. We have developed a medical-grade smart wristband that can automatically detect atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, such as when the pulse suddenly drops or rises more than normal. If the wristband detects an arrhythmia, or if the person feels unwell, or if the pulse slows down or rises more than normal, they are advised to record a six-derivative electrocardiogram, which allows the doctor to make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. Considering the technical capabilities of this wristband, we believe that it is a medical device that is unique and exceptional in the world,” says Martynas Osauskas, CEO of Teltonika Telemedic.

Teltonika Telemedic offers a complete telemedicine ecosystem called MyHealth, which consists of the TeltoHeart wristband, a data-collecting app for mobile devices and the TeltoCare platform for doctors to monitor patients’ data, for more efficient work in medical institutions.

“Heart rate monitoring needs to be carried out over a long period, but until now, the devices offered for this purpose have been either very inconvenient or expensive. The smart medical wristband developed by Teltonika is efficient, functional and comfortable to wear for long-term heart rate monitoring. In addition, the ecosystem of telemedicine devices that will be developed in the future will help to address more persistent problems in the healthcare system. For example, doctors will be able to serve more patients with the ability to analyse data remotely. And by diagnosing diseases at an early stage, treatment costs and hospital workload can be reduced,” M. Osauskas predicts.

It is planned that the TeltoHeart smart medical wristband will also be available for personal use from sales partners or medical institutions.

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The top three brands contributed more than 69% of the total market revenue.

The global smartwatch market posted a healthy 20% revenue growth in H1 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and shipments remaining flat compared to the same period last year, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s IoT service.

Senior Analyst Sujeong Lim said:

“The smartwatch space remains a popular consumer device segment, compared to the downturn seen in smartphone demand and many other segments in the first six months of 2020 due to the devastation caused by COVID-19. Close to 42 million smartwatches were shipped in H1 2020 as wearables continue to see greater demand with consumers becoming more health conscious.”

“India (+57% YoY), Europe (+9% YoY) and the US (+5% YoY), the most affected regions of COVID-19, saw a healthy growth in smartwatch shipments which offset the decline in other markets.”

Lim added: “Apple continued to dominate the smartwatch market both in volume and value. Apple captured a record half of the market in terms of revenue due to strong demand for the Apple Watch S5 models.”

Vice President Research Neil Shah said: “Huawei saw healthy volumes (+57% YoY), jumping to the second spot globally in H1 2020. Huawei benefitted from significant demand for its smartwatches, especially the Watch GT2 series in Asian markets. Garmin, the second-largest brand in terms of revenue globally, continued to make strides cornering the sports enthusiast and athlete market. The brand saw healthy demand (+31% YoY) for its Forerunner and Fenix line, making up one of the broadest portfolios of smartwatches in the market. Europe and North America remain the key markets for Garmin.”

Research Director Jeff Fieldhack said: “Google WearOS continues to account for 10% of the total smartwatch market, behind Apple WatchOS. Huawei’s Lite OS and Amazfit’s Amazfit OS are growing fast. Further, the cellular-capable smartwatch is becoming more popular and accounts for more than one in four smartwatches shipped, benefitting the likes of Qualcomm.”

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A Comprehensive Smartwatch Health Solution for the Chronically Ill and Elderly.

OneLife Technologies Corp., a mobile medical software/data collection company, offers the first AT&T LTE-M certified medical wearable.

The OnePulse smartwatch goes beyond tracking steps. It provides activity trackers, reminders, and alert technologies. Powered by AT&T wireless connectivity, the advanced wearable securely and independently transmits certain critical medical and health data to the cloud. This allows clinicians, patients and their caregivers to monitor user status and well-being.

The AT&T LTE-M connection allows clinicians near real-time access to patient data in a highly secure environment – providing caregivers the ability to intervene when necessary. The LTE-M Low-Power Wide-Area network is designed for IoT devices that are compact. This makes possible OnePulse’ five-day battery life, always on feature and light weight design.

Robert Wagner, CEO of OneLife Technologies, Corp. stated:

“Enabling AT&T connectivity for our devices is a major step in launching our ‘Hub-of-Care’ concept in becoming a leading Population Health Platform with our innovative wearable having the ability to connect patients to their caregivers, virtually in near real-time, almost anywhere in North America.”

“We all want the best healthcare possible – in an emergency, as we age, for our loved ones, or to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now, that level of service is available with the AT&T-connected OnePulse medical and health smartwatch.”

The OnePulse technology provides data for heart rate, location, movement and sleep at the wrist. OneLife’s proprietary Bluetooth protocol provides the ability to easily connect to other health and medical devices. For example, blood pressure cuff, glucometer, SPo2 monitor, weight scale, etc. can connect for collection and transmission of additional health data tracking. This provides the clinician and patient a wide-ranging view of overall health.

“Connected smartwatches developed with healthcare in mind are a step forward into the future of patient care,” said Joe Mosele, vice president, Internet of Things, AT&T.
“The ability to connect caregivers and patients is just one example of how connectivity is transforming healthcare and creating new care models. Our network will help medical providers and caregivers monitor patients from a distance and receive alerts if something goes wrong.”

The OnePulse smartwatch is a valuable tool for the medical provider to monitor chronically ill and elderly patients who plan to “age in place”. It offers benefits for the user, clinician and caregiver:

• 24/7 monitoring with near real-time alerts for family and/or doctor
• Medication reminders and auto prescription refills
• Fall detection
• A customizable suite of services, for specialty conditions
• Fully encrypted medical records that can be accessed via a cloud-based dashboard.
• Artificial Intelligence analytics and predictive analysis
• Open API allows connection to any system including Electronic Health/Medical Record platforms

The OnePulse LTE-M medical and health smartwatch is a complete solution for practical, affordable telehealth and remote patient monitoring. It is expected to be available for purchase by healthcare providers in March of this year.

With its highly secure network, AT&T is enabling the digital transformation in healthcare. From the waiting room to the living room and virtually anywhere in between, AT&T is helping providers improve patient outcomes.

The OnePulse will be on display and demonstrated next week at Mobile World Congress Barcelona in the AT&T booth #4D40; Hall 4.

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The worldwide wearables market is forecast to ship 122.6 million units in 2018, up 6.2% from the 115.4 million units shipped in 2017, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.

This will be the first year of single digit year-over-year growth for the wearables market, mostly due to continuing softness among basic wearables (devices that do not run third-party applications). However, double-digit growth will return in 2019 and through the rest of the forecast as smartwatches and new form factors gain acceptance. In 2022, IDC expects total shipment volumes will reach 190.4 million units, resulting in a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% over the five-year forecast.

“The slowdown in the worldwide wearables market is a sign that this is a market in transition instead of a market in slowdown,” said Ramon T. Llamas, research director for IDC’s Wearables team.

“Vendors are slowly moving beyond first-generation devices and experiences, bringing together an ecosystem of partners and applications for improved user experiences that reach beyond step counting. The wearables of tomorrow will play a more prominent role in communication, digital health care, home IoT, and enterprise productivity that will make last year’s wearables look quaint.”

“The shift from basic wearables to smartwatches is well on its way,” said Jitesh Ubrani senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “With it, we anticipate far greater diversity in terms of design, feature set, brands, and most importantly, price points than ever before. Fitbit’s Versa was one of the first mass market smartwatches to target the sub-$200 price band and in the next six to twelve months consumers can expect more options in the same or lower price tiers.”

“Apart from smartwatches, we also expect growth from new products as kid’s brands, fashion brands, and sports brands begin to to hit the shelves,” added Ubrani. “Although kids’ wearables have been a phenomenon in the Asia/Pacific region, they are just beginning to emerge in Europe and Latin America with the North American market to follow. Meanwhile, the third generation of WearOS watches are expected to make a small splash this holiday season and gain traction throughout 2019.”

“Through all these changes there will still be an appetite for basic wearables,” noted Llamas. “Wristbands will continue to play a significant role in the wearables market, offering simpler and less expensive solutions than their smartwatch counterparts. We also expect these devices will bring a more smartwatch-like experience to the table. Meanwhile, clothing and earwear will post market-beating growth with use cases that go well beyond their primary functions.”

Forecast Highlights

Smartwatch volumes will reach a total of 46.2 million units shipped in 2018, up 38.9% from the 33.3 million units shipped last year. By 2022, total volumes will grow at a CAGR of 19.5% and reach 94.3 million units shipped, accounting for nearly half the entire wearables market. In the near-term, expect a boost from Fitbit’s entry in the market as well as a reinvigorated WearOS to spur volumes. At the same time, Apple’s new Watch will appeal to cardiac patients thanks to its approval from the FDA and AHA, and its refreshed watchOS5 provides reason for owners of older versions to upgrade.

Wristband volumes will remain essentially flat throughout our forecast. Although numerous vendors have exited in recent quarters and more will exit in the years to come, what will remain are best-of-breed devices that go beyond step counting and move towards being a health and fitness companion. Combined with their simple value proposition and lower prices compared to smartwatches ($44 USD vs $289, respectively) wristbands will continue to play a significant role in the wearables market.

Earwear will grow the fastest among all the other wearables products on our list. In this category, we included those devices that feature a plus-one functionality beyond audio, and already earwear has expanded to include fitness tracking and coaching and real-time language translation, and in the coming years it should not be difficult to imagine a smart assistant tucked into a user’s ear.

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Integrated with Semtech’s LoRa Technology, the wearable devices track users close to their home to improve safety and protection.

Semtech Corporation announced its collaboration with Movtek, a leading developer of Internet of Things (IoT) terminal devices and server platforms, in developing a LoRa®-based wearable device that can track the users exact location using GPS technology with the gateway integrated in users’ Smart Home.

The technology is currently being deployed in smart watches and bracelets that can be worn by senior citizens and children who need monitoring for safety.

The smart watches are equipped with Semtech’s LoRa® devices and wireless RF technology (LoRa Technology) that features long range, low power capabilities. The features enable deep penetration capability for urban environments and indoor coverage enabling a variety of Smart Home and Healthcare applications. The Movtek devices are currently in pre-production and will be available by the end of 2017.

Arnong Lau, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Movtek, said:

“Our solutions are ideal for users who need emergency aid or additional monitoring. Semtech’s LoRa Technology enhances our solutions by letting people locate their loved ones in an emergency and is easily integrated in their Smart Home system.”

“As next-generation IoT technologies are developed, there is a need for more Smart Home and Healthcare applications,” said Mike Wong, Vice President of Marketing for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “With its low power, long range capabilities, Semtech’s LoRa Technology helps users solve real-world challenges and improve everyday living.”

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Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the largest ICT services provider in the MENA* Region, OT (Oberthur Technologies) and Huawei have teamed up to pioneer the introduction of remote subscription management solutions in the MENA Region and develop new opportunities around eSIM technology.

In this regard, STC is proud to announce the 1st eSIM trial in the MENA* region that uses the GSMA compliant subscription management platform from OT and Huawei smartwatch.

The eSIM technology allows users to order, install, and activate profiles over-the-air in a seamless, secure, and convenient way, avoiding the hassle of waiting in a long queue at the sales office. It also brings the additional advantage for smartwatch users as it enables them to make calls directly from the smartwatch even if the mobile phone is offline.

OT’s solution is compliant with the GSMA roadmap and has exceptional pioneering tier 1 references in Europe and across the globe. OT offers end-to-end solution to securely and remotely change and manage subscriptions, with minimum impact on an MNO’s systems and infrastructures.

Nasser Al-Nasser, Senior Vice President, Technology and Operations, STC, said:

“We are delighted with our collaboration with OT and Huawei to pave the way for the new wave of connected M2M and Consumer devices.”

“We think that OT’s subscription management solutions and Huawei smartwatches will accelerate the introduction of eSIM technology and open new business opportunities”.

Pierre Barrial, Managing Director of the Mobile Network Operators business at OT, said:
“OT is thrilled to have been selected by the largest ICT services provider in the MENA Region, and to continue its collaboration with Huawei. OT’s role is to offer the most efficient and most secure technologies possible, capable of responding to the needs of OEMs, MNOs and consumers. OT is proud to demonstrate the 1st subscription management reference in the MENA Region together with STC and Huawei”.

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TIM and Samsung, in collaboration with Gemalto, launched today the first smartwatch in Italy with an integrated embedded SIM (eSIM), representing the evolution of the SIM Card and mobile devices.

Samsung’s Gear S2 Classic 3G Smartwatch is the first wearable device in the world with eSIM, a technological innovation that marks a further step towards the digital future of the Internet of Things.

The eSIM makes it possible to connect the device, simply and immediately, to TIM’s mobile network using a QR code. Samsung’s Gear S2 Classic 3G Smartwatch is a real watch that has all the functions of a smartphone and stands out for its essential design with a circular face and metal finish. You can make calls, send and receive text messages, receive notifications, consult your fitness data (step counter, heart rate monitor, stop watch), read emails and browse social networks in complete freedom wherever you are. Fitted with a Tizen operating system, the smartwatch allows you to navigate and choose different services and screens thanks to a revolving bezel ring. Moreover Gemalto, through its platform, will guarantee the correct management and customization of mobile radio service directly from within the embedded SIM.

This initiative, achieved thanks to the expertise of TIM, Samsung and the collaboration with Gemalto, highlights the three players’ ability and commitment to contribute to the development of innovative services for the Internet of Things.

Adoption of the eSIM is only the first step in the evolution of the features of the traditional SIM. This new system allows you to activate and update your subscription to the service remotely, and will then allow the eSIM to be used on other types of devices such as tablets and smartphones.

Thanks to this collaboration people will be able to manage every need on the go through increasingly simple and immediate connectivity tools and TIM’s 4G network. The world of wearables in which Samsung has been investing in recent years represents a strategic technological line within a mobile ecosystem which concerns numerous applications in different areas, from sport to lifestyle and business. The introduction of the eSIM will further contribute to the evolution and spread of this category of devices which is rapidly growing.

Samsung’s Gear S2 Classic 3G Smartwatch is offered at 399.90 euros or it is available with an initial contribution of 49 euros and thereafter instalments of 10 euros/month for 30 months.

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For all those who want to remain in touch at all times, even when they do not have their smartphone with them, Orange is now offering the Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G smartwatch, with the recommended Multi-SIM Calls & Internet option¹.

Receive your calls even when you don’t have your smartphone with you, thanks to the Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G with the Multi-SIM Calls & Internet option

On July 12th, Orange launches the Samsung Gear S2 3G smartwatch, the first device equipped with an e-SIM, the new generation of SIM card, directly built into the product. No need to do anything with the SIM card, the watch is activated directly by the operator. Plus, the e-SIM makes it possible to offer more refined products with an improved design on 3G Smartwatches.

Thanks to its 3G connectivity, this very practical smartwatch allows the wearer to directly receive calls, messages and mobile applications notifications². It thus allows users to make the most of their leisure time by leaving their smartphone at home.

It also incorporates a GPS, a heart rate monitor and 4GB of memory to store music that the wearer can listen to on Bluetooth headphones, for example, while doing sporting activities.

The Gear S2 3G smartwatch is compatible with Android³ smartphones. It is available at a price of € 399.99⁴ in selected Orange stores⁵.

To benefit from this enhanced connectivity, Orange recommends mobile customers to subscribe to the Multi-SIM Calls & Internet option for € 5/month plus a € 10 activation fee.

Gemalto provides Orange with a secure platform which enables it to manage the customer’s mobile subscription seamlessly and remotely, for the connected smartwatch with built-in SIM. This Gemalto solution complies with the first version of the specifications defined by the industry as a whole within the framework of the GSMA, an association of mobile operators and industrial players.

Laetitia Orsini-Sharps, Marketing Director, Consumer Access Offers for Orange France points out:
“We are delighted to launch this connected watch with a built-in SIM with Gemalto and Samsung and to offer our customers the very best of innovation.”

“From now, our customers remain connected even when leaving their smartphone at home (doing sporting activities, or need to run a quick errand without having to carry their smartphones.). They will get incoming calls and notifications wherever they go.”

“Gemalto is currently committed to several projects involving both the industrial and the consumer sector, and is currently a leader on this market, as confirmed by the latest report from ABI Research⁶“, underlines Philippe Cambriel, Executive Vice President of Gemalto. “In a world where billions of machines and individuals need to stay connected on a permanent basis, the remote management of subscriptions is essential to improve the user experience”.

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KIWI PLUS, one of Korea’s leading companies in software development, has launched a new children’s smartwatch developed in collaboration with u-blox, a global leader in wireless and positioning modules and chips.

LINE Kids Watch is a tiny and colorful wearable with LINE emojis functioning as an Android-based smartwatch and officially distributed by KT Corporation. It enables precise tracking of the whereabouts of children, while also offering educational and interactive content.

LINE Kids Watch uses KIWI PLUS’ own IoT platform for wearables, KIWI Edge. Designed with a simple LCD screen for one-touch calling, it also provides real-time accurate location tracking and convenient safety zone setting. An emergency notification can easily be initiated by the child and text messages are sent by speaking into a microphone. Other features include an education quiz and a Cashbee NFC money pocket function.

“We wanted to offer accurate tracking combined with high quality cellular communication, and u-blox has already demonstrated with leading brands of children’s watches its unique combination of GNSS positioning and wireless communication technologies. And considering the small size, low power consumption and powerful location accuracy of its products as well as the speed with which they helped us solved issues, u‑blox was the right choice,” explains Sangwon Seo, CEO of KIWI PLUS.

The u-blox cellular module SARA-U270 and u-blox 7 GNSS chip UBX-G7020-KT are embedded in the smartwatch. The SARA-U270 UMTS/HSPA module provides efficient and cost-effective high-speed mobile connectivity in an ultra-small LGA form factor. The high performance UBX-G7020 multi-GNSS chip supports GPS, GLONASS, QZSS and SBAS and delivers exceptional sensitivity and acquisition times. It has ultra low power consumption and a remarkably very small solution footprint of only 30 mm2.

“It was very exciting to collaborate with KIWI PLUS, as we at u-blox are committed to support our customers by combining technologies for reliable solutions,” explains Shone Kim, Country Manager of u-blox Korea. “We foresee further collaboration with KIWI PLUS in the future, using our LTE technology.”

Wearables are small portable devices that support our daily life, and deliver on-the-spot services thanks to their wireless connectivity and positioning capability. Low power technologies offer a long battery life, and with outstanding radio capabilities, a robust user experience. The market for this type of high technology integration is growing strongly, so price levels are quickly becoming competitive.

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Connected OneMedia Sensation 3G Medical and Health Smartwatch Wirelessly Transmits Patient Information to the Cloud.

AT&T will provide connectivity for OneMedia’s Sensation 3G smartwatch. Complete with activity trackers and phone features, the wearable can wirelessly transmit medical and health data to caregivers.

Using AT&T’s highly secure network, caregivers will be able to monitor chronically ill and recently discharged patients virtually in real-time, allowing them to intervene, if necessary. The Sensation 3G smartwatch can also connect via Bluetooth to other devices.

The Sensation 3G smartwatch is especially useful for chronically ill and recently discharged patients. It can also help those looking to monitor their general health conditions.

“Providing AT&T connectivity to our devices is a vital step on the path to connect patients to their caregivers virtually in real-time, almost anywhere in the United States. We all hope for the best healthcare possible – in an emergency, as we age, for our loved ones or to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now, that level of service is available with the AT&T connected Sensation 3G medical and health smartwatch,” said Bob Wagner, CEO of OneMedia.

Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things (IoT), AT&T Business Solutions, said:

“Connected smartwatches built with healthcare in mind are a step forward into the future of patient care.”

“The ability to connect caregivers and patients is just one example of how wireless connectivity is redefining healthcare and creating new care models. Our network will help caregivers and loved ones monitor patients from a distance and receive alerts if something goes wrong.”

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According to a new report from the M2M/IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, shipments of connected wearables reached 72.5 million in 2015, up from 25.3 million devices in the previous year.

Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 25.8 percent, total shipments of smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness & activity trackers, people monitoring & safety devices and medical devices as well as other wearable devices are forecasted to reach 228.3 million units in 2020. Bluetooth will remain the primary connectivity option in the coming years. A total of 17.8 million of the wearables sold in 2020 are forecasted to incorporate embedded cellular connectivity, mainly in the smartwatch and people monitoring & safety categories.

Apple entered the connected wearables market in Q2-2015 and quickly became the leading smartwatch vendor. The competition is responding with increasingly capable and attractive devices from Android Wear vendors including Motorola, LG, Huawei and Asus as well as from vendors betting on other platforms such as Samsung and Pebble. Smartwatch sales have picked up considerably during 2015 and shipments are on the track to reach 19.5 million units by the end of the year, a 353 percent increase year-on-year.

“This market development has not gone unnoticed by the traditional watch industry and several vendors including Fossil and TAG Heuer have presented smartwatches of their own”, said Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight. Improved devices available in different price segments will drive adoption in the next five years and smartwatches is predicted to become the largest device category by the end of the forecast period.

Today, fitness & activity trackers is still the largest device category and shipments are expected to reach 51.0 million units in 2015. Market pioneers such as Fitbit, Jawbone and Garmin have in the past years been joined by an abundance of companies including major players from the smartphone industry.

“Xiaomi has been particularly successful with its affordable trackers and the company is the only fitness tracker vendor which can compete with Fitbit in terms of sales volumes”, comments Mr. Svanberg. This product category is now facing fierce competition from smartwatches that in many cases include activity tracking features. Decreasing prices and new form factors will still enable dedicated fitness & activity trackers to reach shipments of 71.0 million units in 2020.

Connected wearables such as cardiac rhythm management devices, ECG monitors, mobile Personal Emergency Response Systems (mPERS) and wearable computers are already common in the medical, people monitoring and enterprise segments. Furthermore, miniaturised electronics, low power wireless connectivity and cloud services have enabled the development of a wide range of new connected wearables such as authentication and gestures wristbands, notification rings, smart motorcycle helmets and smart gloves. Shipments of smart glasses have so far been very modest, but promising use cases in professional markets as well as in niche consumer segments will enable smart glasses to become a sizeable connected wearable device category in the next five years.

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Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, has provided the solution to Samsung Electronics for the launch of their latest Gear S2 smartwatch.

Gemalto’s solution will allow users to securely connect to the cellular networks. As a result, they will be able to make voice and data calls, check emails and notifications, or access applications, directly from their wrist, without being tethered to their smartphones.

The wearables market is poised for a rapid growth with worldwide shipments set to exceed 126 million units by 2019. Many smart wearables are coming to market, driven by consumer demands for a more convenient and connected lifestyle. According to a survey conducted across five countries – China, Germany, South Korea, UK, and the US, 56% of smartphone owners say that cellular connectivity is an important factor in buying a smartwatch. Samsung Gear S2, which comes in a circular design with unique rotation bezel and intuitive UX that offers extended battery life of 2-3 days, is optimized for seamless, everyday use. Consumers will be able to stay connected in a fun, personalized and secure way, anytime and anywhere.

“This is yet another milestone in our successful cooperation with Samsung, following the recent launch of Samsung Pay in Europe,” said Suzanne Tong-Li, President for Greater China and Korea at Gemalto.

“As the Internet of Things evolves and focus shifts towards smart wearables that go beyond reporting and monitoring, we will support Samsung to design many more innovative products to reach specific markets.”

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Wearables Shipments to Jump to 75 Million in 2015, Up 158% on 2014 – Apple Watch to account for over a quarter of wearables shipments in 2015 – By 2018 almost 350 million wearable devices will be in use worldwide.

Sales of wearables will grow from 29 million in 2014 to 172 million in 2018, with a spike in 2015. The most popular devices will be smartwatches and fitness trackers. This is according to CCS Insight’s latest global wearables forecast.

The next 12 months will be a transformative year for the wearables market thanks to the arrival of the Apple Watch. This highly anticipated smartwatch will create a frenzy of demand, catapulting it almost instantaneously to be the most successful smartwatch ever. CCS Insight expects Apple to employ its full marketing arsenal and the power of its brand to create another must-have status symbol.

CCS Insight projects Apple will account for a quarter of the wearables market in 2015, selling around 20 million Apple Watches by the end of the year. This is equivalent to about 7% of those who own a compatible iPhone at the time of the product’s launch. The current love affair affluent US consumers have with the iPhone guarantees a strong start for the Apple Watch in its home market. However, if sales of the Apple Watch fail to meet expectations it could hurt the whole smartwatch market.

Last year confirmed that North America will remain the biggest market for wearables in the near term. This region accounted for more than half of global sales in 2014 and that momentum continues in 2015.

Commenting, Ben Wood, CCS Insight’s Chief of Research, stated :

“The Apple Watch will be instrumental in taking the wearables market to the next level of growth. If successful, it’ll create a rising tide that will lift the whole market.”

CCS Insight’s consumer surveys indicate extremely high levels of awareness of wearable devices, but the challenge is translating this into sales. Wood continues:
“People without an iPhone will still have a huge choice of alternative wearables. If the Apple Watch performs as well as expected, its halo effect will result in a sales bonanza in the second half of 2015, with record-breaking shipments in the important fourth quarter.”

While the Apple Watch will be in the spotlight this year, fitness bands from companies such as Fitbit and Jawbone will continue to dominate the wearables market, building on their explosive growth in 2014.

CCS Insight analyst George Jijiashvili observes:
“We expect sales of fitness and activity devices to double in 2015 to 40 million units. In contrast to many other commentators, we don’t believe smartwatches will dent sales of fitness products in the short term. Smart fitness devices do one thing and do it well: they measure activity with the goal of improving owners’ well-being. This, combined with lower retail prices, longer battery life and a strong head start in terms of adoption, suggests that these devices will outperform smartwatches for several years to come.”

Action cameras are a much-forgotten part of the wearables market. They were a central product in the market’s early stages and remained the second-biggest category in 2014. Almost 6 million units were sold worldwide in 2014, buoyed by the success of market leader GoPro. Although CCS Insight predicts continued growth in the wearable camera segment boosted by more-affordable and capable products, the near-universal access to cameras on smartphones will limit total sales.

Beyond the well-known brands and types of wearable device, CCS Insight has observed a steady flow of weird and wonderful new products that it defines as the “long tail” of wearables. This category includes smart clothing, intelligent shoes and insoles, jewellery, adhesive sensors and patches, and even sex toys. Many of these devices are developed as crowd-funded projects and few will succeed. They underline the fact that the wearables market is still in its early stages and despite the explosive growth it will be dwarfed by the 1.5 billion smartphone shipments that CCS Insight forecasts in 2015.

The data above is taken from Market Forecast: Wearables Worldwide, 2014-2018, which is published as part of CCS Insight’s extensive wearables research service.

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Wearables Shipments to Hit 22 Million in 2014 up 129% from 2013. By 2018 over 250 million smart wearables will be in use, 14 times more than in 2013.

Shipments of smart wearables are expected to grow from 9.7 million in 2013 to 135 million in 2018, according to CCS Insight’s new global forecast. The forecast predicts that wrist-worn devices will account for 87% of wearables to be shipped in 2018 — comprising 68 million smartwatches and 50 million smart bands with no screen or with a minimal, one-line display.

Quantified self devices, which track fitness and well-being, are the fastest-growing category. CCS Insight believes this can be attributed to their clear purpose, user benefits and increasingly affordable prices.
Commenting, Marina Koytcheva, CCS Insight’s Director of Forecasting says:
“Wearables are poised to be the perfect gift for the person who has everything this Christmas. We believe this will fuel strong growth in the final quarter of 2014 for smart bands, particularly fitness trackers, which will account for more than half of the 35 million wearables in use at end of 2014.”

However, Koytcheva cautions:
“the wearables market is in its Stone Age right now. There needs to be huge improvements to broaden their appeal. This is particularly acute when it comes to devices for women: wearables need to quickly move on from black, clunky devices; fortunately we’re starting to see the first steps in this direction.”

CCS Insight’s forecast also foresees strong future growth in smartwatches. The company expects many smart band manufacturers to extend their product ranges by adding devices with screens. As smartwatches broaden their appeal, capabilities are refined, new functions are added and prices fall, CCS Insight expects smartwatches to displace fitness bands and become the most used form of wearables.

North America currently leads the way in terms of adoption of wearables: 5.2 million wearables were sold in North America in 2013, and over 40% of all wearable devices currently in use are there. This is partially because many wearable companies are based in North America, but also because the region has proven eager to adopt new technology: a good example of this is tablets. But Western Europe is catching up and from 2016 is expected to buy more wearables than North America. Adoption will be slower in emerging markets and primarily driven by tech-savvy, affluent users.

A smart wearable category that will become much more prominent in the second half of 2014 is stand-alone cellular wearables. We expect a number of high-profile devices with their own SIM cards will be announced in the coming months. However, these devices will face significant challenges as people are reluctant to take out another contract with their mobile operator.

Reflecting more broadly on the wearables opportunity Koytcheva notes:

“The market is still in a chaotic stage of development, and there’s still a huge amount of uncertainty. Every category faces different risks: the way people use wearables is still changing, one type of device could kill sales in another category, people are unsure whether some wearables are socially acceptable, and intellectual property rights are a minefield for the dozens of start-ups entering the wearables market.”

As Koytcheva points outs:
“The market could be changed beyond recognition if a major player like Apple decides to get into the game. History shows us that when Apple enters a market it can reshape the way people think about a product.”

The post Smartwatches and Smart Bands Dominate Fast-Growing Wearables Market appeared first on IoT Business News.

Smart Watches have been around for the last decade.

The wearable computing device has failed to take off for one reason or another: they looked ugly, were too bulky, had weak functionality, or the battery life was not good enough. However, over the last nine months a number of new smart watches have emerged that could change consumers’ perceptions. Market intelligence firm ABI Research projects more than 1.2 million smart watches will be shipped in 2013.

Senior analyst Joshua Flood, says:

“The strong potential emergence of smart watches can be attributed to several reasons. Contributing factors include the high penetration of smartphones in many world markets, the wide availability and low cost of MEMS sensors, energy efficient connectivity technologies such as Bluetooth 4.0, and a flourishing app ecosystem.”

The wearable computing device can be split into four categories: notification types, voice operational smart watches, hybrid smart watches, and completely independent smart watches. Notification type devices are the MetaWatch and Cookoo smart watches, for example, offering alerts for incoming calls, messages and other notifications. Voice operational smart watches enable users to conduct calls and speak some commands via the device such as Martian’s smart watch.

Standalone smart watches with their own OS are moving beyond a smartphone accessory. With the potential to be purchased as a standalone product without the need for a smartphone, they offer high functionality and can connect to other consumer devices like audio speakers. A good example is the Italian smart watch maker, I’m Watch. Other good possible archetypes for this category could be Apple’s hotly anticipated iWatch, Samsung’s Galaxy Altius and Microsoft is also reportedly planning to release a new touch-enabled watch for its Windows-based smartphones and tablets.

“Smart watches that replicate the functionality of a mobile handset or smartphone are not yet commercially feasible, though the technologies are certainly being prepared,” adds Flood.

The post More Than One Million Smart Watches will be Shipped in 2013 appeared first on IoT Business News.