Samsung isn’t the only company today to announce a wearable smartwatch today. Qualcomm announced today that they will be jumping in the wearables market with their own smartwatch. The Toq (“talk”) as its called will work with devices running Android 4.0.3 or newer. The device boasts a better battery life than Samsung’s smartwatch variant. The Mirasol display will allow for multiple days of use on a single charge.
For those that don’t know, the Mirasol display acts much like an E-Ink display but with a faster refresh rate and the ability to display colors. The watch requires little power to use and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a power button (there is none). When it’s time to charge the device there’s a wireless charger that you can set it on.
The device will handle various notifications by connecting to phones and tablets through Bluetooth. It will also come in two varieties. The “Premium Audio Edition” will come with wireless headphones. The device doesn’t run Android itself and what type of notifications and functions are supported are unclear. Apps however, can be built to support the Toq due to having Alljoyn developer framework support.
The kicker for the Toq is that it’s slated to be a limited edition device. What’s unclear, besides a release date, is how long this device will be available for or how much it will sell for. Qualcomm promises to add features over time with various updates. If you’re interested in the device you can head here to sign up for more information, or you can hit the break for the full press release.
Qualcomm Launches the Qualcomm Toq Smartwatch Featuring Mirasol Display
— Revolutionary Smartwatch Unveiled at Qualcomm’s Uplinq 2013 Developer Conference —
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Inc., will release a Qualcomm branded smartwatch in Q4 of 2013. Designed to serve as a second display to your smartphone, the Qualcomm® Toq™ (‘talk’) smartwatch will feature proprietary Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.’s Qualcomm® Mirasol™ display technology, a revolutionary reflective, low-power display that enables an always on viewing experience, wireless charging by Qualcomm WiPower™ LE technology and a true stereo Bluetooth audio experience, all while offering its wearer long battery life with seamless connectivity to their smartphone.
“Toq’s always on, always connected, always visible wearable technology gives you a ‘Digital 6th Sense,’ telling you what you need to know, when you need to know it, with just a glance at your wrist or a whisper in your ear. Toq is a showcase for the benefits of the Mirasol display, WiPower LE and stereo Bluetooth technologies and highlights the experience that the wearable category can provide,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm. “Toq not only represents a long history of technological innovation for Qualcomm, but it also demonstrates our commitment to delivering the breakthrough technologies that redefine the ways we interact with each other and the world around us.”
The introduction of this limited edition smartwatch will feature the key technologies necessary to deliver unique experiences on wearable devices. The color capacitive touchscreen display is always on – similar to a traditional watch – with days of battery life before the device needs to be recharged. In fact, Toq’s power profile is so low that it does not require an on/off button. Recharging Toq is hassle-free, as it also is the world’s first smartwatch to incorporate the Qualcomm® WiPower™ LE technology, enabling a true “drop and go” charging experience.
With Toq, consumers will be able to manage smartphone calls, text messages, meeting reminders and various notifications from their wrist. Developers also will be able to tap into Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.’s AllJoyn™ framework to send program notifications to the smartwatch through the Qualcomm Toq app, which supports the AllJoyn Notification Services Framework. Qualcomm will continue adding functionality to Toq through software upgrades, including integration with Qualcomm Life, Inc.’s 2net platform and the recently announced 2net Mobile software. Toq provides participants of the 2net ecosystem the opportunity to deliver new, compelling ways for consumers to manage their health. Qualcomm Life and Qualcomm Innovation Center are subsidiaries of Qualcomm Incorporated.
Toq also will be made available in a “Premium Audio Edition” that features the first truly wireless stereo headphones. This means no wires between the headsets for listening and no wires for recharging. Another key feature of the headset is that it sits outside the ear canal for all day comfort and wearability. The Toq Premium Audio Edition features high quality stereo sound with a dedicated tweeter and woofer for superior wide band audio. Calls can be placed with the smartphone using either of the headsets.
As this category grows, Qualcomm expects to closely collaborate with traditional ecosystem participants and new entrants to enable new product opportunities leveraging these industry-leading technologies, further driving forward the emerging wearables space.
At launch, Toq will be compatible with Android™ 4.0.3 and above mobile devices. For more information about Toq, please visithttp://www.toq.qualcomm.com/.
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