Google and its Glass may have major competition and the future of wearables is about to get a new name on the market as Samsung announces it will be launching its Gear Glass this September as the battle for wearables heats up. The move could have Google squirming after its own Glass has been met with widespread controversy and uncertainty.
It also follows numerous announcements from Apple, Microsoft, LG, Sony and Epson that they have all filed patents for similar wearable technology patents. The announcement by the South Korean tech giant is a signal that the market is wide open and companies are ready to battle it out.
The move to launch the product in September is in line with the company's effort to have innovative new technology for Europe's largest electronics fair, IFA 2014, which begins on Sep. 5 in Berlin.
The new glass tech will feature Samsung's Tizen OS, which Samsung hopes will help move the company away from reliance on Google's Android that has featured in most of their recent products, including smartphones.
Not a full glasses as compared to Google Glass, Samsung's Gear Glass will be equipped with an ear piece and right eye display that allows users to listen to music while also managing through the display part of the product.
"We rolled out the smartwatch first, and have secured a considerable amount of smart glass-related technology and patents. Following the roll out of our smart watch Galaxy Gear in September last year, we are slated to introduce our smart glass Gear Glass this September," a Samsung official was reported to have said that
The idea for Samsung is to make Gear Glass the flagship for its future wearable tech division, dropping the Galaxy name from the product, which had been the company's go-to brand for smartphones.
Google, which has long been seen as the leader in the wearable tech sector, especially in terms of headgear as a result of its Google Glass. But in recent months, as controversy and angst arise from the Glass - restaurants and bars have barred many from wearing the new tech inside their locations - Samsung believes that it can hit the ground running at IFA.
The IFA is a major event where many of the world's leading technology companies often unveil their latest gadgets and gear with the hope of galvanizing interest in the products. Samsung believes they can compete, and even dismantle Google, from the top of the market.
