Samsung took a big leap into the world of wearable tech Wednesday, releasing a smartwatch that the company hopes will solidify its place atop the consumer electronics market.
Samsung executive JK Shin showed off the Galaxy Gear on his wrist at a launch event in Berlin. The Gear will come in six colors — Shin’s was a sort of tangerine — and have a camera.
The launch comes at a critical time for the South Korean company. There’s no doubt that Samsung’s mobile communications unit has been on an incredible growth spurt over the past few years. Worldwide, according to the analysis firm IDC, the company commands a 30 percent share of the smartphone market, compared with the 13 percent claimed by its chief rival, Apple.
But even at the top of industry, the company is facing the same problems that plague all smartphone makers as market shifts eat into profits. In July, Samsung showed slower-than-expected profit growth, which analysts said is probably because more advanced smartphone markets such as the United States are becoming saturated.
That, in turn, makes it harder to sell the most expensive, and profitable, phones, because the cool factor alone may not be enough to woo customers. Samsung has weathered this trend by using its manufacturing expertise — the conglomerate makes everything from dryers to computer chips — to produce a range of smartphones and tablets to appeal to multiple price points.
But it’s also spurred the company to focus on developing the “next big thing,” a phrase Samsung has adopted as its promotional tagline.
To that end, Samsung is placing a bet on a new product category: wearable technology. There’s certainly potential for wearables, which have already caught on in the form of fitness trackers such as the Nike FuelBand. Analysts have predicted that wearables could sell as many as 9.6 million units worldwide by the end of 2016. Qualcomm announced Wednesday that it will release its own smartwatch later this year.
Stepping into the world of wearables not only gives Samsung the chance to appear on the cutting edge, it will also let it create a brand ecosystem of devices that could help it gain a loyal following like the one that has madeApple so successful.
The smartwatch will work in concert with users’ smartphones. Swiping horizontally takes users between features, such as notifications of updates from your social network or e-mail alerts.
Galaxy Gear users also will be able to accept phone calls on the watch, answering calls by putting their wrist next to their heads. There are speakers and a microphone in the clasp area of the watch. Gear also responds to voice commands, so users don’t always have to physically fiddle with the watch while placing calls.
The watch also has a camera that captures short video clips — visual memos, the company is calling it — as well as photographs. This, Samsung argues, will allow people to capture more spontaneous moments.
The smartwatch will also be able to translate signs in foreign languages simply by analyzing a picture. The Gear will also support its own apps, which have been specifically designed for the watch.
Samsung executive JK Shin showed off the Galaxy Gear on his wrist at a launch event in Berlin. The Gear will come in six colors — Shin’s was a sort of tangerine — and have a camera.
The launch comes at a critical time for the South Korean company. There’s no doubt that Samsung’s mobile communications unit has been on an incredible growth spurt over the past few years. Worldwide, according to the analysis firm IDC, the company commands a 30 percent share of the smartphone market, compared with the 13 percent claimed by its chief rival, Apple.
But even at the top of industry, the company is facing the same problems that plague all smartphone makers as market shifts eat into profits. In July, Samsung showed slower-than-expected profit growth, which analysts said is probably because more advanced smartphone markets such as the United States are becoming saturated.
That, in turn, makes it harder to sell the most expensive, and profitable, phones, because the cool factor alone may not be enough to woo customers. Samsung has weathered this trend by using its manufacturing expertise — the conglomerate makes everything from dryers to computer chips — to produce a range of smartphones and tablets to appeal to multiple price points.
But it’s also spurred the company to focus on developing the “next big thing,” a phrase Samsung has adopted as its promotional tagline.
To that end, Samsung is placing a bet on a new product category: wearable technology. There’s certainly potential for wearables, which have already caught on in the form of fitness trackers such as the Nike FuelBand. Analysts have predicted that wearables could sell as many as 9.6 million units worldwide by the end of 2016. Qualcomm announced Wednesday that it will release its own smartwatch later this year.
Stepping into the world of wearables not only gives Samsung the chance to appear on the cutting edge, it will also let it create a brand ecosystem of devices that could help it gain a loyal following like the one that has madeApple so successful.
The smartwatch will work in concert with users’ smartphones. Swiping horizontally takes users between features, such as notifications of updates from your social network or e-mail alerts.
Galaxy Gear users also will be able to accept phone calls on the watch, answering calls by putting their wrist next to their heads. There are speakers and a microphone in the clasp area of the watch. Gear also responds to voice commands, so users don’t always have to physically fiddle with the watch while placing calls.
The watch also has a camera that captures short video clips — visual memos, the company is calling it — as well as photographs. This, Samsung argues, will allow people to capture more spontaneous moments.
The smartwatch will also be able to translate signs in foreign languages simply by analyzing a picture. The Gear will also support its own apps, which have been specifically designed for the watch.