Alcatel OneTouch are today officially unveiling a new small family of devices designed for active customer who are “always ready for action.” The range is called GO and includes an Android based smartphone, the “GO PLAY,” together with a companion smartwatch, the “GO WATCH.” Both devices are waterproof and shockproof to IP67 standard and are available in a number of colors. I will write about the GO PLAY smartwatch first, which is an Android-based smartphone. Alcatel have given the GO PLAY a number of special software features including the ability to record or stream what’s happening: customers can also show their game face onto any gaming application and broadcast the display screen via pre-installed Periscope, Vine or Zello applications, plus add a voiceover too. Alternatively, customers will be able to add photographs and record comments to music tracks already on the device. The smartphone has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera, which work underwater. Furthermore, Alcatel have made the device deliberately tough such that it can survive a drop of 1.5 meters. The GO PLAY will be available in dark grey, dark red, dark green, orange blue, pink, lime green, blue and orange colors. Alcatel OneTouch are also selling waterproof headsets to match the devices.
Alcatel OneTouch are also introducing the GO WATCH, which is also shockproof, waterproof and dustproof to IP67 standard. Unlike the GO PLAY, which is based on Android, the GO WATCH does not appear to be Android based and so does not run Android Wear. The device is compatible with both Android and iOS devices and can handle notifications from social networking applications, text messages, emails, calls and weather services. Under the skin, it comes with a 225 mAh battery, which Alcatel’s information shows will give between two to five days of battery life. Furthermore, the GO WATCH uses a standard Micro USB port for recharging rather than a proprietary charger adapter. The GO WATCH is also customizable and has changeable front casings and wrist bands, plus has a feature that Alcatel describe as the ability to “hack your emotions and share with friends,” which means the GO WATCH takes input from gyroscope, heart rate sensor and accelerometer, combines it with a theme and can present an emotional graphic to the world. This emoticon can be used as the GO WATCH wallpaper.
As of yet, we don’t have confirmation of the release date of Alcatel’s GO family, nor do we have the finer details as to the operating systems and dimensions of these two devices, the markets we can expect them or the price. When we receive updates, we will keep you posted.
