Apple is preparing to sell its first wearable device this October, aiming to produce 3 million to 5 million smartwatches a month in its initial run, the Nikkei reported on Friday, citing an unidentified parts supplier and sources familiar with the matter.
Specifications are still being finalized for the watch that many believe will be called iWatch, but the devices are likely to sport curved OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays and sensors that collect health data from blood glucose and calorie consumption to sleep activity, the Japanese news service cited industry sources as saying.
The industry has long expected Apple to unveil some sort of smartwatch, following the release of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Gear watches last year, but Apple has been biding its time. In the meantime, Google has released a version of Android designed for wearables like smartwatches.
Wall Street is hoping to see a new Apple product this year to galvanize the former stock market darling’s share price and end a years-long drought of ground-breaking devices. CEO Tim Cook has promised “new product categories” in 2014. Ahead of WWDC this month, Apple’s Eddy Cue said the company had the most exciting device line-up in 25 years, which also hinted at new product categories.
Apple released its plans for the health and fitness tracking market with HealthKit, an app platform that would centralise data for different trackers and smartbands, but instead of only relying on third-party manufacturers, Apple will probably sell the iWatch as the one-stop option, that can track fitness as well as provide alerts.
It’s as yet unconfirmed whether the iWatch will initially only work on iPhones, but it’s very likely. However, given Apple’s stress on Continuity and device syncing, the watch could have more applications that just being a second device for your phone.
Apple declined to comment.
With inputs from Reuters
Apple, Apple iWatch, HealthKit, iPhone, iWatch
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