ABI Research調(diào)查報告指出，受惠于幾款「智能手表」(smart watch)在近幾個月來陸續(xù)上市，預計2013年智能手表出貨量將突破120萬只。
根據(jù)ABI表示，「智能手表」其實已經(jīng)上市大約十年之久了，但由于在外觀設(shè)計上欠缺吸引力、體積龐大、功能不多且電池壽命又差，這一市場一直未能起飛。然而，過去九個月來，由于好幾款新型智能手機紛紛上市，這些新穎的智能設(shè)備設(shè)計改變了消費者的看法。
ABI公司資深分析師Joshua Flood表示，強勁的智能手機崛起潛力可歸納于幾項因素，「包括智能手機在全球許多市場的高滲透率、 MEMS 感測器與高效能連接技術(shù)(如藍牙4.0)的成本降低與普及，以及應(yīng)用程式(app)生態(tài)系統(tǒng)持續(xù)蓬勃發(fā)展?！?
例如，市場上盛傳蘋果公司已經(jīng)準備好推出 iWatch 的可穿戴式運算設(shè)備了，它可提供類似智能手機般的功能。而最近的媒體報導也指稱微軟有意推出自家產(chǎn)品，加入智能手機戰(zhàn)場。
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在功能上復制手機，實現(xiàn)商用化有待時日
智能手表可分為四類，包括通知型、語音功能型、混合型以及完全獨立型的智能手表。通知型智能手表如已上市的MetaWatch 和 Cookoo智能手表，可在用戶接到來電、簡訊與通知時提醒用戶。而像 Martian語音業(yè)務(wù)型智能手表則能讓用戶進行通話以及發(fā)出語音命令。
ABI表示，搭載自有作業(yè)系統(tǒng)的獨立型智能手表也不再是智能手機的附屬品了。這種類型的智能手表提供更高度的功能性，而且還能連接到其它消費電子設(shè)備上，如音響喇叭，因而能夠被單獨販售，而不必與智能手機搭售。
例如，意大利I'm Watch公司提供的獨立型智能手表。另外，傳聞中的 iWatch 、微軟的智能手表以及三星的 Galaxy Altius 等都屬于這一類的智能手表。
Joshua Flood補充說，“智能手表在功能上復制手機與智能手機，雖然在技術(shù)上看來已經(jīng)發(fā)展成熟，但要能實現(xiàn)商用化還不太可行。”
編譯：Susan Hong
參考原文：Smart watch sales expected to surge，by Dylan McGrath
相關(guān)閱讀：
• [拆拆看]21世紀的第一支智能手表Pebble Watch
• 蘋果將推出iWatch？事情沒那么簡單
• IMS Research：可穿戴技術(shù)市場的四個重要發(fā)展領(lǐng)域324esmc
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More than 1.2 million so-called smart watches are expected to ship in 2013 thanks to a number of new models that have emerged in recent months, according to market research firm ABI Research.
Smart watches have been around for a decade, but have largely failed to take off due to lack of visual appeal, bulkiness, weak functionality and battery life, according to ABI. But over the past nine months, a number of new smart watches have emerged that could change consumers' perceptions, ABI said.
Joshua Flood, a senior analyst at ABI, said the strong potential emergence of smart watches can be attributed to several factors.
"Contributing factors include the high penetration of smartphones in many world markets, the wide availability and low cost of MEMS sensors, energy efficient connectivity technologies such as Bluetooth 4.0, and a flourishing app ecosystem," Flood said.
Apple Inc. is widely rumored to be preparing an "iWatch" wearable computing device that offers smartphone-like functionality. On Monday (April 15), it was widely reported that Microsoft Inc. is also prepping a smart watch of its own.
According to ABI, smart watches can be split into four categories: notification types, voice operational smart watches, hybrid smart watches and completely independent smart watches. Notification type devices are the MetaWatch and Cookoo smart watches, for example, offering alerts for incoming calls, messages and other notifications, ABI said. Voice operational smart watches enable users to conduct calls and speak some commands via the device such as Martian’s smart watch, the firm said.
Standalone smart watches with their own OS are moving beyond a smartphone accessory, ABI said. With the potential to be purchased as a standalone product without the need for a smartphone, they offer high functionality and can connect to other consumer devices like audio speakers, the firm said.
An example of a standalone smart watch is offered by the Italian firm I'm Watch, ABI said. The rumored iWatch, the rumored Microsoft watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Altius also fit into this category, ABI said.
"Smart watches that replicate the functionality of a mobile handset or smartphone are not yet commercially feasible, though the technologies are certainly being prepared," adds Flood.
相關(guān)閱讀：
• [拆拆看]21世紀的第一支智能手表Pebble Watch
• 蘋果將推出iWatch？事情沒那么簡單
• IMS Research：可穿戴技術(shù)市場的四個重要發(fā)展領(lǐng)域324esmc
責編：Quentin
