Gains in emerging territories spurred a 5.5 percent Q2 increase in global wearables shipments to 27.9 million units, reported IDC Tuesday. The dollar volume increase outpaced that of units, “fueled by the continued popularity of smartwatches with their high price tags,” said IDC. Measured by dollar value, shipments increased 8.3 percent to $4.8 billion, it said. Wearables unit shipments in the “mature” markets of North America, Japan and Western Europe declined 6.3 percent, it said. “These markets were largely comprised of basic wristbands last year, which have declined substantially since then and the growth in smartwatches has not been enough to offset the decline.” Unit shipments in the emerging markets of Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan), Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, grew 14 percent, “as basic wristbands are still in high demand,” it said. “The decline in mature markets is by no means worrisome as these markets are in the midst of transitioning to more sophisticated wearables," said IDC. "While the previous generation of wearables was focused on providing descriptive feedback like step counts, the current and upcoming generations are far more capable and are well on track to becoming prescriptive and diagnostic tools.” Consumers increasingly want “more from their wearable devices,” and smartwatches are meeting that demand, said IDC.
Garmin said it introduced the vívofit jr. 2 fitness tracker with Disney Princess-themed bands and a mobile app for immediate sale at $79.99 through Best Buy, Target and other national retailers. In addition to tracking steps, sleep and active minutes, kids can use the device “to engage in some friendly competition with their friends and family” in various fitness activities, said Garmin Wednesday. The tracker is “a valuable tool for parents as well, and comes with a companion app that acts as a parental personal assistant,” said Garmin. Using a compatible smartphone, parents “can view their child’s activity, assign chores, and schedule reminder alerts that show up on their child’s device,” it said.
Fitbit added the Charge 3 fitness tracker to its portfolio Monday, citing IDC research saying 42 percent of consumers prefer trackers to smartwatches (36 percent) due to the slimmer design, easy-to-use features, streamlined experience and price point. The $149 Charge 3 has an OLED display that’s 40 percent larger than the previous model, Gorilla Glass for durability and a swim-proof design, said the company. Improved heart rate technology is said to be more accurate than that of the Charge 2, and the SpO2 sensor, first for a Fitbit tracker, estimates changes in blood oxygen levels, which could help track health indicators for problems such as sleep apnea, it said. Battery life is given as seven days.
Sports, fitness and wellness trackers will be dominated by Linux (53 percent) and proprietary operating systems (38 percent) through 2023, with Android-based operating systems completing the field, said ABI Research Tuesday. As fitness and wellness trackers include more advanced features such as heart rate monitoring and step tracking, a more complex OS is required, likely leading to a disparate market, said analyst Stephanie Lawrence. Sports, fitness and wellness tracker vendors have to weigh developing a proprietary OS that functions accurately with the device, leveraging an existing OS with high functionality and app support, or adapting an open-source OS, a less costly alternative, she said. Google’s Android-based Wear OS, capable of powering complex devices, enables vendors to offer a wearable with a recognizable user interface, a large library of apps, and compatibility with various smartphones, Android- or iOS-based, she said. More sports, fitness and wellness tracker vendors, such as Fitbit and Garmin, are developing their own OS to ensure an optimum experience with features and battery life and compatibility with mobile platforms, she said.
Kopin, which introduced its new generation of Solos smart glasses for cyclists and runners at $499 through a dedicated e-commerce site in early May (see 1803090003), is “taking steps to establish distribution channels” independent of the company, said CEO John Fan on a Monday earnings call. Kopin signed Solos distribution agreements with “a number of specialized retailers,” including BackCountry.com, “which is a widely known online fitness retailer,” said Fan. “We’re also raising visibility for Solos by partnering with athletes’ groups,” including USA Cycling and Ironman, the organizer of global endurance competitions, he said. “We continue to identify other organizations that can appreciate the unique capabilities of Solos, and to help us grow visibility and demand.” Though still in the “early days” of the Solos launch, Kopin is “excited about the reception” to the product “from athletes around the world,” said the company Monday, without disclosing sales data.
Consumer electronics wearables will be one of six categories of sports and activity gear included in a “global product labeling database” that the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry will partner on in about a month, said Alli Schulman, SFIA coordinator-communications and marketing, on a Wednesday webinar to mobilize member company opposition to proposed 10 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on sports equipment and accessories (see 1807180058). The database will “provide labeling requirements for 49 countries around the world." More details will be disclosed in an SFIA webinar Aug. 2, she said.
Vuzix said it completed, passed and filed with the FCC all emissions requirements for its next-generation Vuzix Blade smart glasses and completed the European Union CE emissions certification process. Volume manufacturing has begun at the company's West Henrietta, New York, facility, and Vuzix CEO Paul Travers expects "broad shipping" to begin in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In a shareholder letter, Travers outlined factors expected to boost 2018 revenue: more than 750 M300 smart glasses pilots and new ones launching; existing customers placing follow-on orders to pilots; "dozens" of customers and partners surpassing 2017 order totals: and an expanding sales footprint based on regulatory agency certifications in new regions, including Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. The company expects new revenue streams from the Toshiba AR100 and Vuzix Blade, plus more OEM engagements and provision of engineering services, said the executive. Vuzix virtual imaging products integrate microdisplay technology with advanced optics to produce high-resolution display engines measuring less than half an inch diagonally. When viewed through smart glasses, the products create virtual images that "appear comparable in size to that of a computer monitor or a large-screen television," it said. The smart glasses are designed to be used as a stand-alone product or as a smartphone peripheral and can be used as a "wearable substitute" for TVs, desktop PC monitors or tablets, it said. For the quarter ended March 31, Vuzix had product sales of $1.4 million vs. $959,383 in the year-ago quarter and engineering sales of $180,516 vs. $251,280 in the 2017 quarter. Net loss widened to $5.4 million from $4.2 million. Shares closed up 2.7 percent at $7.60.
The Fitbit Ace, billed as the first wearable expressly for kids 8 and older, is available at retail globally, said the company Monday. Priced at $99.95 in the U.S., the Ace “motivates with customizable step, active minute and sleep goals, celebratory messages and badges,” said Fitbit. It has an adjustable, showerproof wristband available in two colors and offers up to five days’ battery life on a single charge, it said. Controls allow parents to manage “who their children connect with and what information they see in the Fitbit app that will motivate them most,” it said.
Consumers are ready to embrace connected devices and use IoT technology to make daily lives easier, CSG reported Tuesday, based on a survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 64. Forty-five percent own at least one wearable device, seen as the most important IoT item. Twenty-three percent use smart home devices, and 36 percent are interested in testing connected home applications. While many IoT devices offer technology advancements or entertainment features, consumers want the IoT to have practical application, with 60 percent seeing the biggest value of the IoT in making life easier.
A Florida company settled FTC allegations it deceptively advertised, through TV and online, the quality of a sound amplifier product geared toward elderly consumers, the agency announced Wednesday. Global Concepts Ltd. and subsidiaries deceptively advertised MSA 30X to consumers in violation of the FTC Act, said the agency. The wearable sound amplifier, which was available in CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, generated $47.2 million in sales. The company’s ads, which claimed it lets users hear up to 30 times better, weren't backed by adequate scientific evidence, the commission said. The order imposed a $47.2 million judgment against the company, partially suspended with a $500,000 payment, the agency said: “If the defendants are later found to have misrepresented their financial condition to the FTC, the total amount of the judgment will become due.” The company didn’t comment.