Fitbit may launch 4G smartwatch for kids later this year: Report

It looks like Fitbit is planning to launch a new wearable that is aimed at kids. According to a report by Engadget, the company plans to launch a kids smartwatch with 4G connectivity later this year. It further adds that in order to do so, the company has acquired Hong Kong-based startup, Doki Technology that made a kids smartwatch with video calling functionality.

Engadget’s report further adds that a few weeks back, Doki had notified customers that its devices, namely the dokiWatch, dokiWatch S and dokiPal would be disconnected from July 1 onwards. However, it was noted that there was no mention of Fitbit in the mail.  

It should be noted that if Fitbit does make a wearable for kids, it will not be the first time it does so. The company already offers devices for children under its Ace range. However, they aren’t exactly smartwatches. The acquisition of Doki should augment that category as it the start-up not only features a self-built platform, but also offers top of the line features like safety tracking, video calling, and voice calling. The report notes that the company’s last smartwatch, the DokiPal, came with a ‘Doki SIM’ that offered unlimited data in over 509 countries for $9.99 a month. 

If Fitbit does release a 4G smartwatch for children, it should have the market pretty much all to itself. Almost all major brands that release wearables tend to focus on adults instead of children. So there might be a market for a wearable that parents can you to track and keep in touch with their kids. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t attempts at making one. A few years ago, Alcatel launched the Movetime kids smartwatch that was said to offer a talk time up to two hours with charging time of nearly one hour. The smartwatch claimed to has a standby time of up to four days. The smartwatch is dustproof and supports calling function along with connectivity options like Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS. Alcatel Movetime sports a 96 x 64 pixels OLED display and weighs 40 grams.   

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2yoYPFv