More tech companies are exploring the arena of wearable devices, with the latest being Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, which has unveiled a smartwatch that can be connected wirelessly to an iPhone.
According to a report from Want China Times, the watch is able to measure a wearer’s vital signs such as respiration and heartbeat, and if the results are not within an optimal range, the watch will automatically provide suggestions on how to make improvements. The device also allows users to check phone calls and Facebook posts.
In the report, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou was cited as saying that the company has planned new features for the smartwatch in the future, such as fingerprint identification to help record personal health data.
The news of Foxconn’s smartwatch comes as Google is reportedly developing an Android-powered smartwatch among other products, amid rumors that Apple is developing a smartwatch – often coined the iWatch – that can perform many of the tasks currently dominated by the iPhone and iPad.
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For years, Foxconn – also known as Hon Hai – has been Apple’s largest supplier, but it has seen its revenue growth slowing amid a faster-than-expected decline in iPhone orders. Apple has also been shifting its supply chain to Pegatron.
The Taiwanese manufacturer has thus been intensifying its diversification efforts – earlier this month it partnered Taiwan Mobile to release a low-cost Android smartphone, following closely after it announced an official partnership with Mozilla to develop at least 5 new devices, including a tablet. Late last month, a report had said Foxconn was gauging a bid for 4G spectrum in Taiwan, after it invested $8.7 million in a local fiber optic provider.
We have spoken to a Foxconn representative and will relay any update that the company provides.
Headline image via AFP/Getty Images
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