 AS rumours abound about plans for an ‘iWatch’ Apple has just hired Patrick Pruniaux, VP of sales for TAG Heuer, reports Reuters.
The well known Swiss watch company, Tag Heuer, is part of the LVMH group which makes luxury watches that can cost up to several thousand dollars. Pruniaux is said to be leaving his old job this week to join Cupertino and is believed to have been headhunted by Apple.
The hire is a major plus for Apple as it prepares to make its first foray into the wearables market this year with a smart watch called ‘iWatch” – a market which Samsung, LG and Sony already have a presence in.
The Apple smart watch is said to feature sensors to measure heart rate, pulse and steps taken, and sport a 2.5 inch touchscreen. Multiple models are said to be in the pipeline.
One million smart watches and bands were sold in Australia so far, although bands like FitBit are more popular than pricier watches, so far.
Last week, Telsyte analyst Foad Fadaghi said the wearables race wont really start in Australia until Apple enter the market, noting smartwatch adoption is still ’embryonic’.
Samsung is the market leader in the smartphone friendly smartwatch category with its line of Galaxy Gear’s, although demand might accelerate with the arrival of “iWatch”, tipped for release later this year.
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