ZTE will push smart watches in the first quarter of next year

The Financial Times news that ZTE plans to start selling smart watches next year marks the emergence of cheap products in the smart watch market. Analysts predict the price of smart watches will quickly fall. The market research firm CCS Insight predicts that "when smart watch prices are significantly below current levels", the industry will grow rapidly, with Android smart watches selling more than 100 million in 2015. Shiyou, ZTE's executive vice president, said in a media interview that ZTE wanted to get rid of the "status" of "second-tier" smartphone makers and enter the top three. At present, ZTE's smartphone market share is about 5%, ranking fourth or fifth. As part of next year's plan, ZTE is investing in so-called "wearable" technologies, including smart watches and smart glasses, Shiyou said. "ZTE will release its smart watch as early as the first quarter of next year." Other wearable technologies, including smart glasses, could take longer to develop, he says. Analysts predict the development of wearable technology, similar to that of tablets, will quickly spread. Shiyou points out that ZTE will increase its share of the highly competitive smartphone market through mergers and acquisitions, but he did not disclose specific targets. Bamboo)