Samsung is planning to launch a smartwatch that works as a stand-alone phone, the Wall Street Journal reported. The manufacturer is currently in talks with carriers in the US, South Korea and Europe about the watch-phone, and hopes to unveil the gadget between June and July, people familiar with the company’s plans said.
The watch-phone will have a Sim Card and be able to make and receive calls without being tethered to a smartphone, something most smartwatches on the market now can't do. It will also take photos, send email and come with GPS, Bluetooth and a heart monitor. The device will run on Samsung's homegrown operating system, Tizen, which co-developed with Intel.
The sources declined to say what the device will be called, or whether a user will make calls by holding the watch up to his or her mouth.
Google and ZTE are also planning smartwatches. Apple is widely expected to launch a smartwatch later this year. Samsung has four on the market, including the Galaxy Gear, powered by Google's Android operating system, and the Gear 2, running on Tizen. But so far, all of these smart devices need to connect to a smartphone to make calls or browse the internet.
Samsung is also using its smartwatches to test out its Tizen operating system, the centerpiece of Samsung's push into software to better compete with Apple and Google. The company aims to use Tizen to connect its wearables with an array of other products, including cameras, refrigerators and air conditioners, executives have said.
