Samsung Smart Watch Patent Names ‘Galaxy Gear’

Details about Samsung’s smart watch have been revealed in a patent filing for a device that is to be officially called the ‘Samsung Galaxy Gear.’

The trademark application to the US patent office is yet another confirmation that Samsung is working on a wearable device that will be worn on a user’s wrist.

Galaxy Gear

In March, Samsung confirmed long-criculating rumours, when an executive confirmed in an interview the existence of a Samsung smart watch, which would compete with the heavily-predicted Apple iWatch.

Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile division, said at the time that such a product was on its way, but he refused to divulge any details regarding features, pricing or speculate on a potential release date for the device.

Now however more details have emerged in the patent filing in the US, as well as one in South Korea.

“Wearable digital electronic devices in the form of a wristwatch, wrist band or bangle capable of providing access to the Internet and for sending and receiving phone calls, electronic mails and messages,” the patent filing revealed.

It added that the device would also be used “for the wireless receipt, storage and/or transmission of data and messages and for keeping track of or managing personal information; smart phones; tablet computers; portable computers.”

Emerging Market

It is widely expected that the smart watch device will run Android to tie in with Samsung’s existing mobile ecosystem, including its mobile flagship products such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone or the Samsung Galaxy Tab range.

It is thought that the device will include only 235MB of storage space, which suggests that the watch is intended more as an interface for a nearby smartphone or tablet, rather than a stand-alone device.

Yet Samsung is not the only player thought to be developing smart watches.

Microsoft is reportedly testing a smart watch, that will reportedly have a number of removable wristbands in different colours, with some prototypes including 6GB of storage and support for LTE networks.

Apple meanwhile is widely believed to be working on the iWatch, although this might not hit the market until late 2014. The Sony Smartwatch 2 was announced in June, and the Kickstarter-funded Pebble smartwatch has also received healthy pre-orders ahead of its release. Google is also thought to developing its own smart watch device.

The wearable computing market is widely expected to boom in the coming years, thanks to the arrival of devices such as Google Glass.

Think wearable tech could be the new black?  Try our quiz on for size!