Qualcomm has shown its growing interest in wearable tech gadgets by introducing "Toq," its first smart watch with "Mirasol display", at its developer conference in San Diego, Wednesday morning.
Qualcomm has decided to go beyond supplying wireless processors for smartphone and tablet manufacturers around the world, including for famous clients like Apple and Samsung. The company is well-known for its wireless telecommunication products and services and trying its hand at the trending smartwatch business is exactly what the company should be doing.
The company does not plan on going large scale with the business; its newest smartwatch will be a limited edition device. Qualcomm has named the device Toq (pronounced as talk), which will serve as a second screen for smartphones. The new wearable tech features the latest technology for an uninterrupted experience for days.
"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," Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm, said in a press release.
The watch's two big enhancements are exceptional in the smartwatch technology race. Qualcomm has used the Mirasol display in its Toq, opposed to OLED used by most companies. The new screen technology will allow users to read notifications on the smartwatch without stress to the eyes, even in bright sunlight. The Mirosol display also helps in extending the battery life of the smartwatch for "days."
The upcoming smartwatch does not possess any physical buttons, not even a power on/off button. Courtesy of Qualcomm WiPower LE technology, the device charges wirelessly once placed in its case.
The smartwatch also comes with a Bluetooth headset that "sits outside the ear canal for all day comfort and wearability" and pairs with Android devices. These headphones can also be charged wirelessly from the cases.
"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," Jacobs added.
The Toq smartwatch will be compatible with devices running Android 4.0.3 and higher. The pricing and the availability date of the device is not known at this point but the company is committed to launching it in the fourth quarter of 2013.
