Monday, 27 January 2014

Report: Samsung to Launch 'Galaxy Glass' in September


Samsung might launch a competitor to Google Glass during the IFA trade show in Berlin in September this year.

The device, named Galaxy Glass, could connect to your smartphone, display call alerts and allow the user to listen to music, reports Korea Times, citing unnamed Samsung executives.

The report doesn't reveal many details about the actual hardware, but it does state that Samsung Electronics would collaborate with another Samsung subsidiary, Samsung Display, to create the Galaxy Glass.

“The new smart glass to be introduced by Samsung is a new concept of wearable device that can lead to an exciting culture of communication," the unnamed official said, according to the report. "The smart glass will present our aim to lead the new market with proven capability. Wearable devices can’t generate profits immediately. Steady releases of devices are showing our firm commitment as a leader in new markets."

Samsung unveiled a wearable device, the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, at last year's IFA, and the company patented a smartglass-type device in October 2013, giving the report some plausibility. However, September is still far off, and even if the report is accurate, it's quite possible that Samsung will change its plans before then.

Korea Times also cites an unnamed executive of a Google parts supplier in Asia, which claims Google Glass — so far available only as a limited beta product — will be commercially available to the general population in the "latter half" of this year.Samsung might launch a competitor to Google Glass during the IFA trade show in Berlin in September this year.

The device, named Galaxy Glass, could connect to your smartphone, display call alerts and allow the user to listen to music, reports Korea Times, citing unnamed Samsung executives.

The report doesn't reveal many details about the actual hardware, but it does state that Samsung Electronics would collaborate with another Samsung subsidiary, Samsung Display, to create the Galaxy Glass.

“The new smart glass to be introduced by Samsung is a new concept of wearable device that can lead to an exciting culture of communication," the unnamed official said, according to the report. "The smart glass will present our aim to lead the new market with proven capability. Wearable devices can’t generate profits immediately. Steady releases of devices are showing our firm commitment as a leader in new markets."

Samsung unveiled a wearable device, the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, at last year's IFA, and the company patented a smartglass-type device in October 2013, giving the report some plausibility. However, September is still far off, and even if the report is accurate, it's quite possible that Samsung will change its plans before then.

Korea Times also cites an unnamed executive of a Google parts supplier in Asia, which claims Google Glass — so far available only as a limited beta product — will be commercially available to the general population in the "latter half" of this year.

Image: JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES