Dell is planning for wearable computers: ‘We’re exploring ideas in that space’
Dell is the latest in a fairly long line of
technology companies to consider
developing a wearable computing device,
according to The Guardian .
Sam Burd, Global Vice-President of Personal
Computing for Dell, told the newspaper that
the firm is exploring a number of ideas, but
stopped short of detailing exactly what, if
anything, was being developed or tested at
the moment.
Desktop PC sales continue to slide year-on-
year, so it’s not surprising that Dell is
looking at a new hardware platform or
ecosystem to boost its ailing profits and stay
relevant.
“There are challenges in cost, and how to
make it a really good experience,” Burd
said. “But the piece that’s interesting is that
computers are getting smaller. Having a
watch on your wrist – that’s pretty
interesting, pretty appealing.”
The comments suggest that Dell is
considering a smartwatch, rather than an
entirely new hardware paradigm such as
Google Glass .
Apple was reportedly working with a team of
“ about 100 product designers ” in March this
year to transition iOS to its own smartwatch
design. The company has since filed
trademarks for the name ‘iWatch’ in Japan,
Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey and Columbia
, strengthening rumors that Apple will launch
the device before the end of the year.
Microsoft is said to be developing a
touchscreen watch device too, in addition to
its own smartphone. Executives at the firm’s
suppliers told The Wall Street Journal in April
that Microsoft had requested various
components for a watch, including a number
of 1.5-inch displays. Given Microsoft’s in-
house development of the Surface RT and
Surface Pro, these rumors sound at least
plausible.
Add fresh reports that Google is cooking up
an Android-based smartwatch , in addition to
the Kickstarter-funded Pebble phenomenon
and Sony’s recently unveiled SmartWatch 2 ,
it’s easy to see how the market could
quickly become overcrowded.
The wider public is yet to latch on to either
the Pebble or Sony SmartWatch, however,
so Dell stands a chance of making an impact
if it can hit store shelves before some of its
equally high-profile competitors. ”We
haven’t announced anything, but we are
looking at the technology in that space,”
Burd added.
Dell is in something of a quagmire at the
moment though as founder Michael Dell and
Silver Lake attempt to take the company
private. The $24.4 billion deal announced in
February was later met with counter offers
by Blackstone and billionaire investor Carl
Icahn. The former has since withdrawn its
bid , citing poor PC sales and a “rapidly
eroding financial profile”, but Icahn has
pressed on with his own tender offer .
Until the matter is resolved, Dell continues to
operate with a less than ideal corporate
image. An entirely new and innovative
product would certainly help to begin
reversing this gloomy state of affairs,
however.
technology companies to consider
developing a wearable computing device,
according to The Guardian .
Sam Burd, Global Vice-President of Personal
Computing for Dell, told the newspaper that
the firm is exploring a number of ideas, but
stopped short of detailing exactly what, if
anything, was being developed or tested at
the moment.
Desktop PC sales continue to slide year-on-
year, so it’s not surprising that Dell is
looking at a new hardware platform or
ecosystem to boost its ailing profits and stay
relevant.
“There are challenges in cost, and how to
make it a really good experience,” Burd
said. “But the piece that’s interesting is that
computers are getting smaller. Having a
watch on your wrist – that’s pretty
interesting, pretty appealing.”
The comments suggest that Dell is
considering a smartwatch, rather than an
entirely new hardware paradigm such as
Google Glass .
Apple was reportedly working with a team of
“ about 100 product designers ” in March this
year to transition iOS to its own smartwatch
design. The company has since filed
trademarks for the name ‘iWatch’ in Japan,
Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey and Columbia
, strengthening rumors that Apple will launch
the device before the end of the year.
Microsoft is said to be developing a
touchscreen watch device too, in addition to
its own smartphone. Executives at the firm’s
suppliers told The Wall Street Journal in April
that Microsoft had requested various
components for a watch, including a number
of 1.5-inch displays. Given Microsoft’s in-
house development of the Surface RT and
Surface Pro, these rumors sound at least
plausible.
Add fresh reports that Google is cooking up
an Android-based smartwatch , in addition to
the Kickstarter-funded Pebble phenomenon
and Sony’s recently unveiled SmartWatch 2 ,
it’s easy to see how the market could
quickly become overcrowded.
The wider public is yet to latch on to either
the Pebble or Sony SmartWatch, however,
so Dell stands a chance of making an impact
if it can hit store shelves before some of its
equally high-profile competitors. ”We
haven’t announced anything, but we are
looking at the technology in that space,”
Burd added.
Dell is in something of a quagmire at the
moment though as founder Michael Dell and
Silver Lake attempt to take the company
private. The $24.4 billion deal announced in
February was later met with counter offers
by Blackstone and billionaire investor Carl
Icahn. The former has since withdrawn its
bid , citing poor PC sales and a “rapidly
eroding financial profile”, but Icahn has
pressed on with his own tender offer .
Until the matter is resolved, Dell continues to
operate with a less than ideal corporate
image. An entirely new and innovative
product would certainly help to begin
reversing this gloomy state of affairs,
however.
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