New research has claimed that more and more manufacturers are backing emerging technologies, with cellular smartwatches set to receive a boost from new hardware and software.
The study has forecast that by 2020, smartwatches with cellular connectivity will account for over 50 million shipments.
Canalys estimates that more than seven million cellular smartwatches will be shipped this year, with the market set to grow at a 63% compound annual rate over the next four years.
The analysis stated that companies such as Apple, LG and Samsung will be the driving force behind the boom, with smartwatches that run on Android Wear or Tizen operating systems already supporting cellular connectivity.
In May this year, Samsungâs Galaxy Gear S2 classic 3G became the first smart watch to be released with the GSMA backed e-SIM specification.
One of the analysts who conducted the research, Daniel Matte, said that the eSIM specification will mean more independent smart watches that will use a smoother user experience based on cellular connectivity.
He added: Users will soon be able to easily choose among cellular providers and pay for monthly service. Many more smart watches with LTE and GPS/GNSS will also be released this year, thanks to the availability of new LTE Category 1 chipsets.”
Canalys predicts that the boom year for the new technology will be next year as the quality of smartwatches on the market is improved by longer battery life, new forms of activity tracking and additional health and fitness sensors.
Matte also believes that he anticipates an improvement of both Android and Apple device app ecosystems in the medium term as both software and hardware improve.
Ericssonâs research into the wearable technology sector found that consumers are most interested in security and safety features for wearables.
Meanwhile, one in three smartphone users said that they expect to be using wearable technology in the next four years.
