Timex is entering the smartwatch race with the announcement of the Ironman One GPS+.
Whereas other smartwatches are being described as extensions of smartphones, the One GPS+ actually looks to get its users away from their smartphones.
All the smartwatches that have been released or announced so far are from technology companies such as Samsung, Google, LG, and as rumors suggest, Apple. The One GPS+ is the first smartwatch that will be released by a worldwide watch brand.
Other smartwatches allow users to keep their phones in their pockets, as the smartwatch will allow the user to do certain operations in connection to their phones. The One GPS+, which will feature a 3G radio and a host of communication tools, is fully independent from smartphones and is looking to be the watch of choice for outdoor and sports enthusiasts.
The One GPS+ will also feature tracking functions that will tell to the user's friends the location of the wearer, along with other useful information such as the speed of the wearer and the distance that he or she has travelled.
The smartwatch also has its own mobile communications functionalities through an AT&T cellular network connection, which will also allow the One GPS+ to send out data without the need to have a connection with a smartphone. Data that can be transmitted include workout data that can be sent to any online service that the user chooses.
The One GPS+ also has the functions of a Bluetooth MP3 player, allowing users to enjoy their music while engaged in outdoor and fitness activities.
The inside of One GPS+ contains a Qualcomm chipset, along with Qualcomm's low-power display technology known as Mirasol. The technology allows the display to be always on, and allows it to be easily seen even in direct sunlight.
In addition to the smartwatch functionalities, Timex stays true to its name, creating a watch worthy of the Ironman brand that the company is known for. The One GPS+ looks very rugged and is water-resistant up to a depth of 50 meters.
Timex is a watch company, and as such, the One GPS+ as a smartwatch leans slightly closer to the "watch" portion of the term. It doesn't receive notifications from smartphones, but it helps adventurers and athletes through unique ways that no other smartwatch in the market can offer.
The One GPS+ will have a retail price of $399.95.
