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Samsung looks set to launch a smartwatch powered by Google’s recently announced Android Wear operating system designed specifically for wearables – despite investing heavily in Tizen for the Gear Fit and Gear 2.
According to Reuters, the company has plans to launch an Android-based smartwatch later this year. Yoon Han-kil, Samsung’s senior VP of product strategy, explained that “Android “still needs to be our main business”, despite the investment in Tizen.
Should Samsung launch an Android Wear device, it would go head to head with the LG G Watch and Motorola 360, along with the company’s own wearables which either use Tizen or a completely custom operating system in the case of the Gear Fit.
Reuters also suggested Samsung wants the Gear smartwatches “eventually to become compatible with all Android-based smartphones”, not just the limited number of Samsung handsets currently compatible with the wearable range, although there was no indication in the report of when that may happen. Should the company pull it off, it would fix one of our major complaints with the wearable range in its current state; not everyone wants to own a Samsung phone just to use a companion device.
With no major technology events happening between now and IFA in September, we could be in for a long wait to learn more information on Samsung’s plans – although Berlin is a safe bet for an announcement, considering that’s where the company launched the original Galaxy Gear, and is set to introduce the Galaxy Note 4 at this year’s event.
