Wearable technology has become very popular in the past year or two. We’ve got Google Glass, Pebble’s SmartWatch, Sony just announced their new smartwatch last week, and there’s definitely more coming. Just about every manufacturer under the sun has been rumored to be working on a smartwatch. That includes Google, Apple, Samsung, LG, and even Microsoft. Qualcomm just recently filed a patent for a smartwatch. So soon we’ll have plenty of smartwatches to choose from.
Today, we are learning that Samsung has just filed for Samsung GEAR trademark with the USPTO (US Patent & Trademark Office). Which could in fact be the name of their smartwatch. If you remember, back in March one of Samsung’s executives had all but confirmed that the company was working on a smartwatch. We know there’s a smartwatch coming from just about everyone. But what was Samsung going to call it? Of course, we immediately though “Galaxy Watch” or anything with the term “Galaxy” in there. But as we learned today, Galaxy is not part of the smartwatch at all. The watch is said to arrive as the Samsung GEAR.
There have been several references to watch terms like electronic clocks and control clocks. There’s also a clear statement found embedded in the filing, which describes exactly what GEAR is all about.
[watches, watchbands and/or bracelets] that communicate data to personal digital assistants, smart phones, table PCs, PDA, and personal computers through internet websites and other computer and electronic communication networks
Samsung has already thrown Android into stoves, refrigerators, and even cameras. So what’s next? Well a smartwatch looks very possible. But I still worry about how usable a smartwatch will be. So the real question is, can Samsung make a smartwatch mainstream? Like they’ve done with their Galaxy brand. Smartphones are now mainstream, everywhere in the world. That didn’t used to be the case, about 3-4 years ago. It’ll be interesting to see how the Samsung GEAR will work.
How many of you are anxious for a smartwatch? Let us know in the comments below.