While many expected Apple's iWatch to debut at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, it was not on display. But new reports are surfacing, claiming the iWatch will be launching this October and linked with Apple's push into the health device market as it attempts to create buzz over a litany of new products (including a new series of iPads) and devices expected to go on sale later this year.
Many believe Apple's foray into market will spur efforts to improve the health wearable tech sector, whereby users can monitor heart rates, blood pressure and other fitness and health related issues, all through a smartwatch.
According to Nikkei, "industry sources" are saying the iWatch will launch in October and will feature a curved OLED touchscreen display.
Apple, according to reports, believes the iWatch will be a huge success and apparently is looking to manufacture between three and five million units monthly until the launch, with sales expectations already high on the device even before it has been officially launched.
That may be an ambitious figure, however, as Apple sold only 15 million iPads during the first 12 months the tablets were on the market, so pushing out three to four times that many iWatches seems a lot, but the move would position Apple to be a serious competitor in the smartwatch sector.
Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald, writing a series of notes in Barrons.com, has said the company is ready to begin manufacturing ahead of the October launch. The smartwatch is to have a price tag of around $750.
"With the theme around wearable technology at Computex this year, our research has uncovered more data points as it relates to Apple's "iWatch." Our meeting with a tech supply chain company highlighted that initial production of certain "iWatch" components is scheduled to begin later this month and there are plans for a sharp acceleration into fall," writes White.
"Given the trajectory of this ramp and our experience analyzing other product ramps at Apple, we expect the "iWatch" to be unveiled with the iPhone 6 in September," he noted
White also revealed an important point about the iWatch, in that it will not be a standalone device, but more of a companion piece that would require an iPhone to use and function at full capacity.
