2014 is ending and 2015 seems to be a new year full of innovations. This year will certainly be a pivotal one for the connected objects market, which is having a hard time convincing consumers.
Many efforts have been made by manufacturers to introduce new products, bracelets, eyeglasses, watches and even belts. However, it should be admitted that despite all the suggestions made by the industry giants, users have difficulty in perceiving the advantages of these products in terms of use.
According to a recent study by GfK, even those who were tempted by a connected object left it at the bottom of a drawer. These are no lessone-third of users who completely abandon their products within six months.
But things could change soon. 2015 will be the year the Apple Watch, the Apple brand’s connected watch, is released, and Its commercialization could stimulate the global market and benefit devices running Android Wear.. Here’s why.
- To learn more: One-third of connected object users abandon them within six months
Apple gives “the”
It’s hard to admit when you’re an Android fan, but the truth is, Apple is a brand that knows how to embrace new technologies en masse. Although the Cupertino company is sometimes late, it is enough to enter a market for this market to explode. The last example is contactless payment.
This technology has been available on Android smartphones for a long time, but no excitement has been created around it. Apple introduced its Apple Pay solution, and all players in the commerce and banking industry swear by it.
The same phenomenon will definitely happen with the Apple Watch. Other manufacturers have already offered products, and even if they are successful, such as the Moto 360, sales are not increasing.
Apple has such a strong power Analysts estimate 24 million Apple Watches were sold in just nine monthsor more than 30 million a year (sales explode during the holiday season). A figure that turns heads.
- Also read: Moto 360 review
In fact, 10% plan to buy an Apple Watch within 12 months, according to a survey of 4,000 iPhone owners. This is how the calculation was made. Such sales forecasts are a good omen for Apple as well as its competitors and especially those offering products under Android Wear. because This adoption of the Apple Watch will have a snowball effect..
In its infancy, the iPhone led other manufacturers, no one saw the benefit of the iPad, and today the tablet is an indispensable product. Even if Apple doesn’t invent anything, it knows how to create enthusiasm, it knows how to launch or relaunch a market in slow motion in a way that pleases other brands.
Apple Watch’s high price will benefit other brands
Apple knows how to get the user community excited. But the brand’s high-end positioning is a brake for many consumers turning to other players in the industry.
The Apple Watch will democratize the use of connected watches, there is little doubt about this fact, but its price will scare more than once, which will benefit its competitors. UBS’s estimates point to this trend since a panel of consumers surveyed. the majority would prefer a Samsung Gear over an Apple Watch.
The average price of an Apple Watch will be around $430. If we factor in the starting price of $349 for a sporty model and $500 for a slightly more stylish model. We do not yet know the prices of the luxury models offered by the brand in Colette.
$430 is already a good amount. However, competitors are already able to offer products below these prices. For example, Samsung, LG or Motorola already have products with lower price positioning and nothing to envy the Californian firm in terms of quality.
The snowball effect created by the Apple Watch and the more affordable prices of the products offered by the competitors will benefit the manufacturers of connected watches running Android Wear.
- Also read: Apple Watch Edition will cost several thousand dollars
Developers will do this
For now, the connected objects market is at a standstill. There are many products emerging, but few consumers to buy them. The point is, as we mentioned above, users do not see the added value of these objects in terms of use. And it’s true that even the best products don’t offer anything revolutionary: activity tracker, GPS, Notifications. That’s basically what you can do with a smartwatch.
Really useful apps are missing, but developers have little interest in working on apps that will only be used by a limited number of users. The story of the snake that lost its tail is as follows: consumers want more apps to be seduced, developers want more users to submit apps.
Thanks to the success of the Apple Watch, this problem can be quickly fixed again. Because if the analysts are right, the user base of connected watches will grow at an impressive rate.
On the Apple Watch side, there will be a potential of 30 million users for developers. And with the frenzy created, Android Wear products should succeed too. That’s why developers will be interested in quickly delivering apps for the first followers of connected watches.
Then, over time, there will be more applications, uses will be more extensive, consumers will be more likely to be seduced. And the park will expand further. Up to what level?
way The success of Android Wear smartwatches depends on the success of the Apple Watch. Forecasts are pretty good, according to analysts. The process was the same for smartphones and then tablets. For all the reasons mentioned above, the same would certainly apply to linked watches.
- Also read: Our top 5 of the best connected watches
