Facebook no longer just wants to be recognized for being a social media giant. Its approach to hardware development has become more serious and although it is not the first gadget to launch, with this new watch, Facebook would be taking a greater level of seriousness.
According to the media specialized in technology, the device will have a screen with two cameras that can be removed from the wrist to take photos and videos, which can be shared in the set of Facebook applications, including Instagram, and its release date is planned for this summer.
“The idea is to encourage owners of the watch to use it the way smartphones are used now. It is part of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to build more consumer devices that bypass Apple and Google, the two dominant creators of mobile phone platforms that heavily control Facebook’s ability to reach people. ” The Verge specifies in its report.
The possibility of having independence in more hardware is one of the reasons why Facebook could be developing this gadget, but also the fact of integrating its social networks is one of the factors behind this launch.
The company is also not limiting itself to the development of this watch, because according to close sources, consulted by The Verge, Facebook is also looking to develop smart backpacks.
In addition to this watch, Facebook has launched its Portal device in the past, as well as the launches it has made at Oculus, where the focus has been on developing augmented reality apps.
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple sold 34 million watches last year, while worldwide smartwatch shipments are forecast to grow in the coming years, from 37 million units in 2016 to more than 258 million. units by 2025, according to Statista.
Apple’s growing smartwatch market share
Introduced in April 2015, the Apple Watch has rapidly increased in popularity and was the top provider of smartwatches as of the first quarter of 2020, surpassing companies such as Samsung and Fitbit, and Xiaomi in their rise to global dominance.
Although Apple’s main source of revenue comes from iPhone sales, the company also receives a significant amount of revenue from the sales of its wearable devices, accounting for more than 10% of its total revenue in the last quarter.
Why develop a smart watch?
Consumers’ intentions to buy a smartwatch have fluctuated, but have generally remained relatively stable over the past few years. Smart watches perform most functions ranging from being able to view notifications and text messages, to GPS tracking and navigation.
Now, due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-19, the global market for wearable devices was predicted to slow its growth in 2020 compared to the growth rates in 2019, but in the case of Facebook it is an opportunity to open an area of competition with Apple.
“Facebook is working with major US wireless carriers to support LTE connectivity on the watch, which means it won’t need to be paired with a phone to function and sell it in their stores, people familiar with the matter said. The watch will come in white, black and gold, and Facebook expects to initially sell a six-figure volume, ”says The Verge.
