Huawei Australia is looking to step up competition in the smartwatch market, launching what it describes as Australia’s first 4G SIM-enabled smartwatch.
This means users can detach themselves from their phone and still have access to near-full functionalities of the device, including calls, data & messaging.
The SIM and built-in GPS chip enables calls and texts and the use of apps such as Uber, Foursquare and Facebook Messenger, all independent of a Bluetooth-connected smartphone, Huawei said.
The watch sports a 1.2-inch AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass.
Health isn’t forgotten. Smart sensors inside the watch collect information such as distance travelled, speed, steps, heart rate, calories and gait.
Android Pay may be used to make payments where accepted.
Vodafone is the exclusive Australian network operator at launch. Ian Walls, Vodafone Australia’s head of devices, said the network would announce plan details, presumably including pricing, “soon”, but a number of sources have put it at $599.
