Smartwatches are gaining popularity fast – a year ago, they were an extremely niche device, and the market wasn’t very saturated either, with only a few companies daring to put out their own devices. Now, all the major manufacturers are racing to make more and better smartwatches, and Motorola have been quick to make their way to the front of the race. The release of the Moto 360 went through relatively smoothly, and reports indicate that the company is already considering a successor to the smartwatch.
The Moto 360 2, as it’s currently tentative called, is reportedly already being developed, and is scheduled for a release in early 2015. It will again run on Android, and will be aimed at the Russian market initially. It’s not known how long Motorola plan to keep the device exclusive to that market before they make it available everywhere else, although Motorola is known for experimenting with different markets for specific reasons, so this kind of release probably makes sense with regards to their long-term plans.
The watch has apparently seen some revisions in its design, and now looks more like a regular watch than an electronic device. The black bar has been dealt away with, and the watch now sports a clean front that makes it almost indistinguishable from a regular watch, according to reports. Apparently, it has a more stylish overall appearance, and seems to be aimed at business buyers who want something more appropriate to match their formal attire. Smartwatches in general have been getting some criticism in this regard, as most designs have been seen as too tacky.
It’s not known if the company is planning to revise the specifications of the device, although it’s likely. It won’t make much sense to release a new version that only changes the visual style of the watch, especially several months after releasing the original. It’s expected that the Moto 360 2 will come with more powerful hardware and better battery life, although it might also come at an increased price, if the initial reports are true.
Motorola have been very successful in entering the smartwatch market, and have already established a position for themselves on it. The company just has to hold on to what they’ve built now, and keep releasing devices that score good reviews, while also attempting to innovate the smartwatch field in their typical manner. Motorola are a company that has proven several times that they know how to deliver innovations in new markets that they decide to enter, and there’s no doubt that their venture into the world of smartwatches will sooner or later bring something revolutionary to the table.