Fossil has big plans for this year, and it took to CES 2016 to announce a new smartwatch called the Q54 Pilot, new accessories, and an ambitious promise.
With wearable devices increasingly gaining momentum, 2016 should bring a lot more new gadgets to the table and it's already shaping up to be quite exciting. Luxury watchmaker Fossil, for its part, wants to bet big on the wearable technology market this year.
The watchmaker is still riding the high tide after launching its fashionable Fossil Q line of wearables, and it came at CES 2016 with exciting news to share. First off, Fossil announced plans to release 100 wearable this year so it can offer plenty of different styles to suit all needs and preferences. This suggests that Fossil wants to become a heavyweight player on the wearable market in 2016, not just dip its toes with a few gadgets here and there like it did in 2015.
The new Fossil Q54 Pilot, meanwhile, made its debut at CES 2016 as the latest smartwatch in the company's lineup. Inspired by vintage aviation design, the Q54 Pilot fits in the non-display category, but nonetheless packs high-end Intel Innovation connectivity.
"As a brand, we are really proud and excited about the initial response to Fossil Q wearables-to date it has exceeded our expectations. Given that, we are more committed than ever to bring our design expertise as watchmakers into the wearable technology space," boasted Jill Elliott-Sones, Fossil's chief creative officer.
According to the watchmaker, the Fossil Q54 Pilot is designed with analog watch lovers in mind.
"Designed using Fossil's original Pilot 54 case and chronograph movement, this stainless steel wrist essential is a classic must-have for everyone," the press release further touts.
The chronograph movement and the Pilot 54 case will allow users to get color-coded notifications or buzz notifications by taking advantage of the gadget's LED component. The Fossil Q54 Pilot will hit retail in early Spring and will cost $175 - $215, the company revealed.
Fossil also announced new accessories to complement existing wearables, as well as a neat new software update for its Fossil Q companion app. The Fossil Q Dreamer activity tracker that launched last fall now received two new styles: the tortoiseshell and the shimmer horn.
The watchmaker also has a number of new interchangeable strap options with new colors and materials, allowing gadget owners to make their Fossil Q wearables more personal and customized to better suit their style. The new options are set to go on sale starting in late January and include blush and sea glass for women and silicone stripes in navy and grey for men.
Lastly, the Fossil Q app update brings new vibration patterns, enhanced activity supporting, more languages, and more app support.
