It looks like the next big player who wants to take the Apple Watch’s crown may have the means to compete seriously, even if he has other obstacles to overcome. According to a new report in The Information, Facebook is planning to release its first smartwatch, and the company may have something available as early as next year.
The story, which is confirmed by four anonymous sources of the company, claims that the portable cell phone connection will have to ensure that it can work independently of a smartphone, and that it probably plays a big role in the social appeal of the company with Facebook Messenger.
Health is reportedly another big area, with Facebook planning to connect with other companies’ hardware and software, such as Peloton. The portable operating system will initially use Android, but it is said that Facebook is working on its own operating system for a long time, with a second generation likely to arrive only in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Apple Watch 7 is expected to deliver a wide range of upgrades. It may include an advanced microLED screen, as well as the ability to monitor your blood pressure and possibly your blood glucose levels.
Will smart shop buyers trust Facebook?
This is a very risky planning, especially when Facebook’s experience with hardware to date can be described as “volatile”. While it’s hard to find where to buy Oculus Quest 2, the same cannot be said for the company Hall slim screen. And few people will remember ChaCha – the 2011 smartphone collaboration with HTC with its own dedicated Facebook button.
If anything, the challenges have increased over the past decade. While Facebook has become even more dominant, a series of privacy-related Facebook scandals has made consumers more skeptical about how the company uses data, and it’s hard to see how it would carefully collect users’ fitness data with a portable square and possibly the place shell.
That’s even before you face the challenges with any enterprise that watches the Apple Watch. In addition to LG and Sony, many classic watchmakers and fashion houses have tried to crack Apple’s portable dominance with limited success. Only Samsung and Fitbit are competitive.
Facebook is undoubtedly aware of the up-and-coming challenge it faces, despite its huge R & D budget and ability to advertise for its $ 2.7 billion membership. Presumably for this reason, The Information report suggests that Facebook intends to sell its portable material at cost price.
The question is what the construction cost is: there is still a big gap between a $ 150 Fitbit Charge 3 and the $ 399 Apple Watch Series 6. The answer to the question will help us predict whether a Facebook watch has potential has, or that it is probably dead on arrival.