OPPO is entering the wearable market with the launch of its new OPPO Watch. The smart device comes with built-in cellular connectivity, which is delivered with the help of eSIM technology from Thales.
Thanks to the use of eSIM technology, OPPO Watch wearers will not need to tether to a mobile phone to utilize its more advanced features. They will instead be able to activate a mobile subscription remotely, and that, in turn, will allow them to use the Watch (and only the Watch) to make voice calls and send messages from anywhere that has adequate wireless coverage.
Thales’ eSIM solution has been approved by all three of China’s major mobile operators, which means that OPPO customers can get a mobile subscription from any of those three operators when they set up their OPPO Watch. The eSIM tech also enables a sleeker design because it negates the need for a dedicated SIM slot in the body of the Watch.
“As OPPO’s first foray into the wearable electronics market, the OPPO Watch marks a strategic step into the field of AIoT for the company,” said OPPO China President Liu Bo. “Thanks to eSIM solutions that bring smartphone-level convenience to smartwatches, users can stay connected in a smarter and more efficient way without restrictions.”
According to OPPO, the new watch will be especially useful in situations in which it is inconvenient or impractical to carry a mobile phone (such as during a workout). The watch itself is water resistant to 50 meters.
“The wearable segment is the second largest market for eSIM-compliant consumer electronics after smartphones,” added ABI Research Consumer Devices Director David McQueen. “Smartwatch makers, in particular, are increasingly on-boarding eSIM connectivity in their devices to address use cases such as kids safety, sports and health monitoring.”
ABI Research predicts that there will be approximately 315 million wearable devices with cellular capabilities in circulation by 2025. With the Watch, OPPO should be well positioned to capture a portion of that market. As it stands, the company is best known as a manufacturer of mobile phones, and has recently released Reno3, Reno Ace, and Find X2 smartphones with in-display fingerprint technology from Goodix.
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