Apple and Facebook have gotten along badly before. Still, after the company added new security features in iOS 14 and essentially forced all developers to report on the data is collected, the relationship between the two tech giants soured completely. And Facebook was probably thinking about creating its own operating system, where the social network would have complete power. However, it isn’t easy to implement, but making your own device – for example, a smartwatch – is entire. And Facebook really decided to compete with the Apple Watch and design a watch that focuses on messaging and health features. Users will send messages using Facebook services such as Messenger and WhatsApp, and the watch will work with cellular without a tethered smartphone.
Facebook smartwatch
As it became known to The Information, which cites its sources on Facebook, the new smartwatch will track the user’s workouts, including with friends, communicate with coaches. It will also connect to health and fitness services such as Peloton. As an operating system, Facebook decided to use a solution from Google based on Android. Quite possibly, we are talking about Wear OS.
Facebook plans to sell its smartwatches at a price close to their cost, as they do now with the Oculus headset. It is unknown what the price of the Facebook Watch will be, prices for similar watches from competing companies (for example, Apple) range from $ 150 to $ 400.
The social network has often faced accusations of spying on users lately, so it will be difficult for Facebook at first to impose a device on users that will spy on them not only in the Facebook app or website but also 24 hours 7 days a week. Amazon recently released the Halo fitness bracelet, which was not well received by users. In particular, many were concerned that Amazon wants to get to know its customers better with the bracelet. However, Facebook already makes some consumer hardware products, including the aforementioned Oculus VR headsets and Portal tablets. And they are bought.
Facebook Watch, or Apple Watch?
Facebook’s smartwatches will have to compete with the Apple Watch, one of the top-selling wearables on the market. Just this week, analysts estimate that over 100 million people worldwide own an Apple Watch. The success of the company’s watches is largely due to the iPhone’s popularity since it makes almost no sense to buy an Apple Watch without an Apple smartphone.
At the same time, Facebook may face particular challenges in designing its smartwatch. To compete with other social network watches, you will still have to provide for pairing this device with iOS. And judging by the fact that Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg are already behaving like sworn enemies, Zuckerberg would like to avoid this by all means. It will be interesting to see how Facebook gets out of this situation.
Facebook reportedly plans to start selling its smartwatches next year, with the second generation of Facebook Watch slated for 2023. Simultaneously, the watch is already at the prototype stage, but there is always a possibility that the project will eventually be cancelled.