Samsung unveils smartwatch

Samsung has beaten rivals such as Apple in the race among major digital technology companies to launch a “smart watch” that it hopes will kick–start a new generation of fashionable and connected wearable devices.

Unveiling the much–anticipated watch at the IFA electronics fair in Berlin, Samsung’s chief executive, JK Shin, said: “Consumers want their daily lives to be easier and more enjoyable. Samsung Galaxy Gear benefits consumers by integrating smart device technology even deeper into their everyday lives, and bridges the gap between the mobile device and fashion worlds to create truly wearable technology.”

He said it would “free users from the need to constantly check their smart devices. It provides what we call ‘smart freedom’ by allowing users to choose how, why, when and where they are connected”.

Apple revolutionised the market for consumer electronics in 2007 when it launched the iPhone to popular acclaim but competitors such as South Korean giant Samsung, using Google’s Android operating system, have since taken market share from the California–based company, which is now under pressure to maintain its reputation for innovation.

Samsung hopes that its new watch device will pile more pressure on its American rival, which is shortly expected to reveal a new version of its iPhone.

Nicola Shenton, head of device and product portfolio at mobile network operator EE, said: “Smart watches form part of a growing trend in wearable technology that we’re now seeing emerge.

“They give both consumer and business users a new gateway to their digital lives, enabling them to retrieve emails and social updates, or even browse the web, without having to even touch their phone.”