Microsoft Corporation might beat Apple at its own game, if reports are to be believed – the Redmond giant might launch its own wearable computer before the Apple Watch, in time for the holiday shopping season, Forbes Magazine reports. The supposed Microsoft gadget will have the advantage of being capable of working with iOS, Android and Windows Phone smartphones.
Microsoft was quite a closed world – similar to Apple for that matter – under the “rule” of Steve Ballmer, the company’s previous CEO. After he was replaced by current CEO Satya Nadella, the company has become more open. The first step in this direction was the launch of the Microsoft Office suite for Apple’s iPad tablet this March, and more similar moves are to follow. Nadella’s goal is to make Microsoft products available across all devices, not just Microsoft powered ones. A commendable intention, if you ask me.
Back to the smartwatch. Microsoft’s new wearable device will have another advantage over its competitors: it will have a two-day battery life, much longer than any of its competitors. The Moto 360 and the Samsung Gear, and even the Apple Watch will need to be charged each day – twice as much battery life will be a strong selling point for the yet unnamed Microsoft watch, considering that this is one of the most important features for users of these devices. The product will focus strongly on fitness, using the company’s Kinect technology to continuously monitor its user’s heart rate.
Given its weak presence on the global smartphone market with Windows Phone, a cross-platform smartwatch could be Microsoft’s big chance to enter the wearable market, estimated to be worth $7 billion in 2015. Microsoft has yet to launch a product capable of competing with Apple. Its Zune media player has failed miserably, and its Surface tablet is not as popular as it could be. A cross-platform smartwatch with a two-day battery life could just do the trick…