Smart phones revolutionised the telecommunication industry forever. Since the launch of the first iPhone in June 2007, and subsequent launch of HTC Dream, the first Android phone, in September 2008, smart phones have seen a rapid evolution. From a communication device to pocket size mobile computers, smart phones have come a long way.
However, since last two years, the changes and advancements in smart phones have been incremental. Experts believe that Smartphone technology of the day has reached its climax. And, Samsung and Apple both reporting a drastic decline in Smartphone profit figures is a testimony to this belief.
However, the battleground in the field of technology seems to be changing already. Smart watches are emerging to be the next big thing in the tech world. Although the first technically ‘smart watch’, the Linux OS was presented to the world by its creator Steve Mann in February 2000, smart watches were never a thing until Apple released its smart watch in 2015. Even Samsung, which is currently giving a tough competition to Apple Watch with its Samsung Gear, had miserably failed with its Android powered Samsung Galaxy Gear smart watch that it had released in 2013.
But, by the year 2018, the smart watch sales saw an exponential growth while the Smartphone sales saw a steep decline. Now, what changed within just three years that caused this trend shift? Well, the approach. When Samsung launched Galaxy Gear in 2013, it was nothing more than an accessory with its Android phones. It had some good features, but there was nothing compelling.
While the first Apple Watch had received more positive reviews by the critics, just like Samsung, the sales figures were not very impressive. But in late 2017, both the tech giants changed the approach towards the smart watch concept. The latest Samsung Gear watches and Apple Watch series 4 are no more ‘accessories’.
They have become personal health companions thereby attracting the masses that are increasingly becoming health cautious. Now, will the smart watch end the era of Smartphone? Definitely not! At least in the near future.
However, it is the next big thing in the tech world till something bigger, or say smaller hits the markets.
