Wearable adoption slow, app use declining: study

The adoption of wearable devices is sluggish in Canada, with only 10 per cent of Canadians indicating they own one, suggest the results of a new Catalyst study.

“While the advent of wearables, particularly the Apple Watch, made headlines in 2015, the overall adoption rate was less than anticipated,” the digital marketing agency said in the report released Thursday.

Global wearable device shipments to grow 38.2% this year: IDC

International Data Corp. said Thursday that global shipments of wearable devices are expected to reach 110 million by the end of 2016, with a 38.2 per cent growth over the previous year, and to reach 237 million by 2020.

The research company said in a press release that “an expanding lineup of vendors combined with fast-growing consumer awareness and demand” accounts for the expected growth from 2015 to 2020.

Global wearable device sales to grow 18.4% in 2016: Gartner

Gartner Inc. is forecasting that global wearable device sales will increase 18.4 per cent this year to 274.6 million units, up from 232 million units the previous year.

The research company said in a press release Tuesday that sales of wearables will generate revenues of $28.7 billion US this year, of which $11.5 billion US will be from smartwatches. It also forecast that 50.4 million smartwatches will sell in 2016, up from 30.3 million units the previous year.

Bell to bring iHeartRadio to Canada

BCE Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed a partnership deal with iHeartMedia Inc. in order to bring iHeartRadio, the free digital radio and music streaming service based in the U.S., to Canada this year.

It said in a press release that iHeartRadio will provide customers “instant access to the live radio feature,” and will showcase content from Bell’s broadcast and digital-only radio stations across mobile, auto dashes, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles and wearables.  

Wearable shipments up almost 200% in Q3: IDC

Worldwide wearable shipments rose 197.6 per cent with 21 million units shipped in the third quarter this year, up from 7.1 million units in the same period a year earlier, according to a new report released Thursday by International Data Corp.

Apple drives 500% increase in smartwatch shipments: report

Global smartwatch shipments were up 510 per cent in this year's third quarter from a year earlier, with 6.1 million units shipped compared to one million during the same period the previous year, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics released Wednesday.

Apple Pay coming to Canada, with Amex

Apple Inc.'s mobile payment system is coming to Canada but will be, at least initially, limited to holders of credit cards from American Express Co.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, during a conference call Tuesday to discuss the company's fourth-quarter earnings, announced that Apple Pay would be in Canada and Australia this year for American Express customers, and Spain, Singapore and Hong Kong would follow next year.

Apple Pay is currently operational only in the United States and United Kingdom.

AT&T announces number-sharing across devices

AT&T plans to introduce a service that will allow customers to link all of their mobile devices to their phone number.

Chief marketing officer David Christopher said in a blog post Wednesday that the service, called NumberSync, means “you’ll be able to send and receive texts, as well as make and receive calls, from your tablet or wearable using the same number that your family, friends and colleagues recognize.”

Nymi appoints John Haggard as CEO

Toronto-based wearable maker Nymi Inc. said Thursday that it has appointed John Haggard as its new CEO.

Haggard replaces company founder Karl Martin, who has moved to the job of chief technology officer, Nymi said in a press release.

Nymi said Haggard has more than 30 years of experience in information-security products and authentication technology. He most recently served as chief business officer of Yubico, a maker of USB and near-field communications (NFC) devices for authentication.

Canadian wearable shipments to rise 55% this year: IDC

The Canadian wearable market is expected to get shipments of 1.4 million units by the end of 2015, up almost 55 per cent from 905,000 last year, according to International Data Corp. 

Rogers launches first Canadian music radio app for Apple Watch

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Monday that its KiSS 92.5 in Toronto is the first Canadian music radio station to launch an app for Apple Inc.’s Apple Watch.

It said in a press release that the app will allow users to instantly listen to a live stream of the station, along with scrolling through new playlists to see what is trending on the station.

Wearable shipments more than doubling this year: IDC

International Data Corp. said Monday that wearable shipments will reach 76.1 million units this year, up 163.6 per cent from the 28.9 million units shipped in 2014.

It said in a press release that total shipments of basic and smart wearables will reach 173.4 million units by 2019, resulting in a five-year average growth rate of 22.9 per cent.

Android Wear now compatible with iPhones

Google Inc. said Monday that its Android Wear operating system for smartwatches can now work with Apple Inc.'s iPhones.

Google said in a blog that LG Corp.'s Watch Urbane is the first device the iPhone-compliant version of Android Wear is available on. It said all future Android Wear watches will work with iPhones.

Android Wear will work with devices as far back as the iPhone 5 that run on iOS 8.2 or higher.

Wearable shipments tripled in Q2: IDC

Technology research company International Data Corp. said said in a press release Thursday that the global market for wearables grew 223.2 per cent in this year's second quarter with 18.1 million units shipped, up from 5.6 million units shipped in the same period the previous year.

Wearables creating more data-driven workplace

Wearables and tracking tags are being used more frequently in a wider variety of workplaces to collect statistics on employee productivity, health and satisfaction — tracking the performance of professional athletes, helping doctors get to hospital patients quicker, and even monitoring stress levels of office workers.

Braille smartwatch in development to give blind another option

A South Korean company is aiming to provide blind people with the first-ever braille-display smartwatch this year, and a representative from the Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) says it provides an opportunity for many to improve their quality of life.

Wearable tech could eliminate need for smartphones: exec

Wearable devices could replace everything in our pockets, eventually wiping out smartphones in five to 10 years, says one wearable-technology company CEO. However, others say functionality, design and comfort are among the issues that make that prediction unlikely.

Samsung fitness bands rank highest in U.S. survey

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. ranks first among fitness-band makers for customer-satisfaction among U.S. residents, while Fitbit Inc. is second, according to a survey by J.D. Power and Associates.

It said in a press release Tuesday that Samsung's wearable fitness tracker scored high in terms of performance, style and appearance, variety of features, battery life and durability, while Fitbit was noted for its reliability, ease of use, durability and availability of apps.

Hexoskin shirts available through Best Buy

Hexoskin, a Montreal-based maker of shirts that capture biometric information about people, said this week that its products were to become available on the Canadian website of Best Buy Co. Inc. as of Friday.

The company said in a press release that its shirts are of value to athletes for tracking their bodies during exercise, daily activities and sleeping, as well as for astronauts and those doing scientific research.

Weather Network app launched for Apple Watch

Pelmorex Media Inc. announced Thursday the launch of a new Weather Network app for Apple Inc.’s Apple Watch.

Wearables will increasingly use AI, say techies

OTTAWA — Those in the wearables industry envision the day when their products are taking less direction from humans and doing more thinking for themselves — in other words, incorporating more artificial intelligence (AI).

“We’re moving from this time where we manually created the Internet," Tom Emrich, organizer for the organization known as We Are Wearables, said during an event held in Ottawa Tuesday. "What we’re doing now is waking things up in this age of awareness.

Privacy issues around wearables come into view

As wearable technology moves further into the mainstream, thoughts are turning toward how individual privacy can be protected with such devices that track and transmit information as personal as health data and real-time location.

Among the projects the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is slated to tackle over the next year is an analysis of fitness-tracker privacy and security.

Intel buys Recon Instruments

U.S. technology giant Intel Corp. has purchased Vancouver-based wearables maker Recon Instruments, the company said in a blog post Wednesday.

Recon makes smart eyewear for sporting activities such as cycling and running.

Recon CEO Dan Eisenhardt said in the blog that, as a part of Intel, "we’ll have the resources to continue the mission we began with the creation of Recon in 2008, but with a level of efficacy and speed that’s beyond the reach of a pioneer in a new market."

Wearables market to grow 173.3% this year: IDC

International Data Corp. predicted Thursday that the global wearable market will grow 173.3 per cent this year.

The technology research company said in a press release that 72.1 million wearable devices will be shipped this year, up from 26.4 million last year. It forecast average annual growth of 42.6 per cent over five years with the number of shipments reaching 155.7 million units in 2019.

Wearable apps to multiply in coming years: IDC

The number of third-party applications for smart wearable devices is expected to surge from 2,500 last year to 349,000 by 2019, International Data Corp. said Tuesday.

The research company said in a news release that most of these apps will be consumer oriented, though there is an opportunity for apps in the enterprise space. It said apps targeted specifically for enterprise-related tasks currently make up about 10 per cent of what’s available for smart wearables, and that is anticipated to grow to 17 per cent over the next four years.

Bell launches Fibe TV app

BCE Inc. on Tuesday announced the release of a new Fibe TV app, which it said will allow customers to access this TV service anywhere, at any time, on any screen. 

Videotron rolls out Apple watch app for TV customers

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has launched a new app for Apple Inc.’s smartwatch that the company hopes will increase discoverability of channels available though its cable packages and appeal to early tech adopters.

Amazon launches online wearables store

Amazon.com Inc.'s Canadian unit on Monday announced the launch of an online shop for wearable technology.

Android updates smartwatch technology

Google Inc.'s Android division on Monday announced several upgrades to its smartwatch technology, including built-in WiFi, making apps visible even when devices are in energy-saving mode, and adding easier functionality for opening apps and sending messages.

David Singleton, director of engineering for Android Wear, said in a blog that watches running on its operating system will begin allowing apps to stay visible even when the energy-saving function kicks in, just not in full colour.

Recon Jet smart goggles released

Vancouver-based Recon Instruments announced Thursday the release of its new smart goggles for outdoor sports enthusiasts called Recon Jet.

It said in a press release that the product is equipped with GPS, a camera, a display that's visible just below a user's right eye and can be paired with smartphones for certain functions.

Apple Pay could launch in Canada this fall: report

Apple Inc. is negotiating with Canada's major banks about a launch of its mobile-payment service, Apple Pay, in November, according to the Wall Street Journal.

An article published online Friday said Apple is negotiating with the six largest Canadian banks — Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada and National Bank of Canada.

Ericsson report finds one-third of consumers polled have or want wearables

A new report from Ericsson AG suggests Apple Inc.’s upcoming Apple Watch could address a market that's far larger than what current wearable sales would indicate.

In a worldwide study of more than 54,000 people, the technology maker examined the idea of the “quantified self,” in which individuals track their daily metrics such as calories consumed, steps taken or quality of sleep.

Apple watch to replace car keys, CEO says

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook said the company’s new smartwatch is designed to be able to replace car keys and fobs, The Telegraph reported Friday.

The British newspaper quoted Cook as saying the watch will also include features such as heart rate monitoring and mobile payments using Apple Pay, and the battery life will last for a full day.

New Windows will run on PCs, tablets, mobile phones

On Wednesday Microsoft Corp. announced two new devices as well as more details about the latest version of its Windows operating system, which will be the first to run cross-platform on desktops, tablets and mobile phones.

Ex-Microsoft exec calls out wireless industry on radiation issues

OTTAWA — The former president of Microsoft Corp.'s Canadian operations is calling on companies involved in wireless technology to be more forthcoming in addressing what he says are health risks associated with exposure to signals transmitted from various devices.

Enterprise to assume bigger role in technology adoption: Deloitte

After a decade of consumers being the trendsetters in the adoption of emerging technology, the enterprise sector will take on a bigger role in 2015 as leaders in the use of cutting-edge IT products, according to a new report from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.

BlackBerry launches IOT platform, BBM for wearables

BlackBerry Inc. said Wednesday from the CES technology trade show in Las Vegas that it launched an Internet of Things (IoT) platform, and that it will make its BBM service available on smartwatches.

Wearables, OTT, IoT to rise in 2015: IDC

Greater consumer interest in wearable technology, growth in over-the-top (OTT) television subscriptions and greater prominence of the Internet of Things (IoT) are among the top trends in technology expected for next year in Canada, International Data Corp. said Monday.

Report suggests declining momentum for Google Glass

Google Inc.'s wearable device, Glass, is seeing a decline in interest among the public and application developers, according to an article by Reuters.

The article, published Friday, said nine out of 16 app makers it contacted that were involved in projects for Google Glass have put on hold or completely abandoned their work for this device, mostly citing a lack of customers or limitations of the device. It said three others had stopped working on consumer applications in favour of those for businesses.

Payment wristband to be tested in Canada

Toronto-based wearable technology maker Bionym is partnering with the Royal Bank of Canada and MasterCard for a Canadian test of wristbands that act as payment tools.

Kurt Bartlett, a spokesman for Bionym, said in an email that the pilot project will launch before the end of this year. 

He said the product, called the Nymi Band, will identify a user through their unique heart rhythms and allows users to pay with contactless payment technology similar to what is used in credit cards and other mobile payment cards.

Microsoft launches wearable device

Microsoft Corp. announced a new group of products designed to help customers monitor and track their health on Wednesday, including a fitness band and a cloud platform for health data.

The $199 US Microsoft Band wearable device will monitor user’s hear rate, sleep and distance walked as well as displaying notifications from a user’s smartphone, the company said in a news release. The Band will be compatible with Android, iOS and Windows Phone, and is “designed to be worn 24 hours a day,” the company said.

Public not yet sold on Internet of Things: survey

The Internet of Things has been compared to the Industrial Revolution in terms of its eventual impact, though the general public is not yet fully aware of it nor convinced of its value, according to a recent study.

That’s the takeaway from a study of U.S. residents by Acquity Group, a marketing and research firm owned by Accenture Inc., which found that 87 per cent of consumers hadn’t heard of the term “the Internet of Things.”

Canadians using phones to shop but wary of mobile payments

Canadian shoppers are increasingly turning to their smartphones while in-store to find bargains, check for coupons and look up product reviews, according to a new study.

A report from consumer information company BrandSpark International, released Thursday, showed more than half of Canadians polled say they use their smartphone more often when shopping than they did a year earlier.

Labelling requirements eased for wearables

Industry Minister James Moore announced Friday that the government is easing labelling requirements for electronic devices by allowing information to be displayed electronically on the devices' screens rather than in a physical display on gadgets.

A news release from Industry Canada said the changes take effect immediately, and it mentioned wearable devices, such as glucose monitors, as the type of equipment that would be affected.

Apple announces new phones, payment system, watch

Apple Inc. announced two new larger iPhones, a payment system and a wearable device, the Apple Watch, at a Tuesday event in Cupertino, Calif.

The new smartphones are, at 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches measured diagonally, larger than previous iPhones and feature an upgraded camera, improved WiFi connectivity and compatibility with the latest carrier technologies such as voice-over-LTE and WiFi calling.

Standalone wearables on the way this year: AT&T

Wearable technology that can connect to mobile networks on its own, without being tethered to a cellphone, will establish a presence on the market this year, an AT&T executive reportedly said.

An article published Tuesday by IDG News Service quoted Glenn Lurie, AT&T's president of emerging enterprises and partnerships, as saying his company expects to offer at least one such device by year's end.

Purpose, fashion sense needed in wearables market: IDC

Wearable technology is expected to see "hockey stick growth" in Canada in the coming years, though the gadgets' purpose must be better demonstrated and the products have to look good on people, according to a release from International Data Corp.'s Canadian branch on Monday.

In a press release, IDC Canada said a survey it did showed 18 per cent of Canadians are interested in technology that tracks their health and performance during exercise, and 10 per cent are interested in digital glasses.

New smartwatch won’t need tethering for calls: WSJ

Samsung Electronics Co. is poised to release a smartwatch that will not need to be tethered to a smartphone to make calls, the Wall Street Journal reported.

An article posted on its website Friday said, according to people familiar with the matter, the product will be released between June and July.

Samsung already has a smartwatch on the market, though it uses the signal of a smartphone to make calls, as most smartwatches do.

Google opens up Glass sales to U.S. public

Google Inc. said Tuesday any resident of the United States is invited to sign up for the opportunity to purchase its Glass technology, which is still in development.

“We’re still in the Explorer Program while we continue to improve our hardware and software, but starting today anyone in the U.S. can buy the Glass Explorer Edition, as long as we have it on hand,” the company said in a blog posting.

Apple looks to bring iWatch to market: reports

A wearable device called the iWatch is poised to be among the next pieces of disruptive technology offered by Apple Inc., according to reports.

U.S. watchdog approves Facebook purchase of Oculus

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday that Facebook Inc. has been given the go-ahead to purchase virtual-reality technology maker Oculus VR Inc.

Google Glass available in U.S. for one day

Google Inc. will make its Glass wearable device available to the general public in the United States in a one-day sale on Tuesday.

The device will sell Tuesday for $1,500 US, the company said in a blog post last Thursday.

Since last year, the device has been available to a select group of developers, contest winners and invitees as the company tests the product ahead of its mass-market availability.

Wearables bring together techies in Toronto

There are a few hundred people in Toronto who are, in a manner of speaking, wearing their passion and belief in the potential of wearable technology on their sleeves.

A group, comprised largely of people in related professional areas, has started to gather on a monthly basis to discuss the potential, opportunities and issues that could arise in this emerging field.

The group, which initially started out in January as Wearable Wednesday with the idea of having a meeting on the last Wednesday of every month, has since rebranded itself as We Are Wearables.

Virtual reality ‘the next social and communications platform’: Facebook

Facebook Inc., in announcing the purchase of a pioneering virtual reality company, said this kind of immersive technology is "a strong candidate to emerge as the next social and communications platform.”

The social networking company said in a press release Tuesday it is buying Oculus VR Inc. for about $2 billion US, including $400 million US in cash and the rest in stock. Facebook said the acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

Ray-Ban maker to help manufacture Google Glass

Italian eyewear maker Luxottica Group S.p.A. said Tuesday that it has reached a deal with Google Inc. to collaborate on making its Google Glass wearable technology.

The company said in a press release that its main brands, Ray-Ban and Oakley, would be included in the partnership, which would combine Luxottica's expertise in eyewear-making with Google’s technological know-how “to design, develop and distribute a new breed of eyewear for Glass.”

Phablets to drive mobile data growth, cord-cutting at ‘tipping point’: Deloitte

Increased sales of larger, “phablet” smartphones will drive growth in mobile data consumption in 2014 as more consumers use the bigger devices to watch more mobile TV, consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLP said in its annual media and technology predictions.

In predictions released Tuesday, Deloitte said larger smartphones with screen sizes between five and 6.9 inches will account for 25 per cent of global smartphone sales in 2014, totalling about 300 million phablets sold worldwide, or about twice as many as in 2013.

Will wireless providers benefit from smartphone market’s ‘device exhaustion’?

When smartphones first became available, they were groundbreaking and innovative because they brought together the functions of previously separate devices—cameras and GPS, telephones and computers—into one.

They “integrated the functions of other devices we had in our pocket at the time,” Glen Yeung, managing director and global head of technology research at Citi, said in a telephone interview.

Now, though, it seems we’re all out of devices to integrate.

Smart wearable devices to become a consumer market by 2014, experts say

Expanding wireless network capacity and other new technologies are enabling growth for the “smart wearable devices” market, such as glasses, watches and healthcare monitoring tools, experts say.

In a report released Oct. 31, research firm Juniper Research Ltd. forecasted the smart wearable devices market will be worth more than $1.5 billion US by 2014, rising from $800 million US in 2012.