Swatch has already confirmed plans to release a smartwatch sometime this year. Little is known about it but it will include mobile payment support via NFC. Swatch CEO Nick Hayek has now revealed to a Swiss newspaper that his company is also working on a smartwatch battery that would do away with the need for nightly recharging.
The new battery promises to last up to six months before being recharged. Expected to be available sometime in 2016, it will also work in cars.
“Whoever brings a battery for a smartwatch to the market that you don’t need to charge for six months has a competitive advantage,” Hayek explained in the interview with Handelszeitung. “We’re working intensively on this problem with our research group Belenos and battery producer Renata. Next year we will come to the market with a revolutionary battery, not only for watches but also for automobiles.”
As Hayek points out, battery life has been the biggest complaint about most smartwatches currently on the market. Many will last a day or two at most. In comparison, traditional watches often go for years before needing a replacement (or never in the case of automatic watches).
As for Swatch’s first smartwatch, it could launch as early as sometime this month. It is expected to be compatible with both Android and Windows Phone.
Has the short battery life of current smartwatches kept you from getting one? Would a smartwatch battery that offers six months of uninterrupted operation change your mind? Let us know below.
Source : Reuters