Casio Sticks to 'Watch First' Message as It Fends Off Smart Watch Competitors
Casio is maintaining a “watch first” stance on smart watches as it eyes technology companies entering a category that it has been helping to pioneer since its first smartphone launch at CES 2011, Sue VanderSchans, senior director-marketing communications, told us…
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during a holiday season product tour Wednesday. VanderSchans cited reviews of smart watches from tech companies so laden down with technology that simple functions – including telling time -- were difficult to perform. Casio is focusing on the watch first, and then technology, in its lineup, which starts at $99, she said. "We’re not trying to sell smartphones, and they are," VanderSchans said of companies including Apple, LG and Samsung. A smart watch’s success in the market will be determined by "maintaining the functionality of a watch," she said. Casio positions battery life of up to two years as a key differentiator of its smart watches, compared with an expected 24 hours for the upcoming Apple Watch. The Casio OmniSync STB1000 is compatible with apps including Abvio’s Runmeter, Walkmeter and Cyclemeter and Wahoo Fitness over Bluetooth 4.0, the company said. The OmniSync STB1000 displays running pace and distance, elapsed time, pulse cycling speed and pedal rotations, and can record up to 120 lap times without an iPhone, Casio said. With an iPhone connection via Bluetooth, users can control their music library using buttons on the watch to adjust volume and playback, Casio said.