But while the overall market showed continued growth, it also showed a growing trend towards smart wearables (devices capable of running third party applications) and away from basic wearables (devices that do not run third party applications).

“The differing trajectories for both smart and basic wearables underscore the ongoing evolution for the wearables market,” said Ramon T. Llamas, research manager for IDC’s Wearables team. “Basic wearables – with devices coming from Fitbit, Xiaomi, and Huawei – helped establish the wearables market. But as tastes and demands have changed towards multi-purpose devices – like smartwatches from Apple, Fossil, and Samsung – vendors find themselves at a crossroads to adjust accordingly to capture growth opportunity and mindshare.”

“Along with a change in the types of devices being sold, there’s also in a change in where the devices are being sold,” said Jitesh Ubrani senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “Traditional tech outlets still play a huge role in distribution but companies like Fossil and Movado are pushing forth fashion-oriented channels. Meanwhile, Apple’s recent introduction of cellular connectivity, and Samsung’s longstanding relationship with telcos are also helping provide an uplift to sales and awareness of wearables.”

The post No Slowing Wearables in 2018 and Beyond, Says Latest Projection appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

That’s the key takeaway from the new IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker forecast, which projects that vendors will ship a total of 121.7 million wearable devices this year, marking a 16.6% increase from the 104.4 million units shipped in 2016.

The wearables market is forecast to maintain this pace of growth with shipments reaching 229.5 million units in 2021, resulting in a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2%.

“We expect the most innovation and development in the wearables market to take place on the wrist,” said Ramon T. Llamas, research manager for IDC’s Wearables team. “It’s the ideal location for users to collect, view, and interact with data and applications, and the point to execute tasks like responding to notifications or communicating with other people and devices. Layer on top of that varieties in style, design, segment, and feature set, and wristworn wearables are poised to remain well out in front of the market.”

To learn more from IDC’s latest report, click here.

The post New Data Points to Continued Interest, Growth in Wearables appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

We’re told that the offering is aimed at improving lone worker safety.

So how does it work?

The solution fully integrates SoloProtect’s innovative application with the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch, providing employers a new way to deliver tangible safety benefits to lone workers who often work outside a traditional office, in the field or in remote or hazardous locations, and may be without close or direct supervision.

This innovative solution highlights the increased awareness among employers on the importance of protecting their workforce and the potential business impacts associated with unmitigated workplace risks. SoloProtect is collaborating with Samsung to provide a solution that is highly reliable, discreet and effective. The solution will be available for demonstration at Mobile World Congress Americas, taking place in San Francisco (September 11-14), in Samsung’s booth (North Hall #N642).

“We’re incredibly excited to introduce our collaboration with Samsung at Mobile World Congress Americas and showcase our industry-leading SoloProtect Watch,” said John Broady, Chief Executive Officer at SoloProtect. “We sought out a partner that could help deliver a high-quality wearable to make working alone safer for men and women in the field. Samsung shares our core values and has a proven track record of pairing its cutting-edge devices with the latest enterprise-ready platforms.”

To learn more about SoloProtect and its latest innovations, click here.

The post Wearables Now Watching Out for You at Work appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

We’re told that eligible cardholders of participating banks will be able to make payments with Fitbit Pay, Fitbit’s new payment function, when available.

So how does it work?

With Fitbit Pay, Visa and Fitbit are meeting demand amongst the majority of wearable owners who, according to the recent “How We Will Pay” survey* by PYMNTS and Visa, see the opportunity for wearables to improve the way they pay throughout their day with a more secure and seamless cashless payment experience.

Not surprisingly, the continuous rise in mobile connectivity has led to the proliferation of digital payments. And Visa is now in position to make the most of the opportunity at hand.

“Visa continues to focus on delivering the tools and technologies that empower our partners to offer safe, secure and convenient payments to consumers via connected devices,” said Jim McCarthy, executive vice president of innovation and strategic partnerships at Visa Inc. “Partnering with Fitbit on its new Fitbit Pay service is another step forward in the growth of Internet of Things and shows how Visa is enabling companies across the technology industry to help us all move towards a cashless future.”

The post Visa, Fitbit Take Health and Mobile Payments to the Next Level appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

The following is a guest contributed post from Chris Holbert, CEO of SecuraTrac.

Wearable technologies have been widely adopted by consumers to measure and track aspects of health. Bracelets can track steps and calorie burn, clothing can measure heart rate and VO2 levels. While adoption is slower in clinical settings some health care organizations have begun to integrate wearable technologies into patient care to create more opportunities for e-health programs and to create new data availability.

Some wearable technologies developed for the health care sector are designed to monitor patient vitals. Patients who are not in critical condition are able to receive round-the-clock monitoring from health care professionals at home or at a step-down care facility. There is no need for people recovering from basic surgeries or who have chronic conditions to remain in the hospital for prolonged periods of time. Care can be dispatched to their homes on an as needed basis if vitals stray outside a “normal” range.

Not every patient requires this level of monitoring and care. But that does not mean there is not a need or place for wearable technology in their ongoing care plans. Less technical devices that do not include monitoring features for vital signs can still provide a valuable lifeline between patients and providers.

Many assume that long term care is only for senior citizens. In reality there are a variety of reasons young and old patients alike can require assistance with daily activities and medical needs. However, seniors do make up the largest percentage of populations requiring ongoing care services. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 8,357,100 people receive support from the five main long-term care services each year. These include home health agencies (4,742,500), nursing homes (1,383,700), hospices (1,244,500), residential care communities (713,300) and adult day service centers (273,200). While nothing can replace face-to-face interactions between patients and care providers technology can help enhance caregiving and even improve patient outcomes in certain situations.

Often the decision to move into a senior living facility or retain a home health nurse is made due to failing health, the death of a spouse, or the general wearing out of the body. At age 65 normal daily activities might be easy, but by their mid-70s many people start noticing problems with balance, arthritis, and a loss of strength. Tasks that used to be simple may seem more challenging and more accidents begin to occur. An active lifestyle can be hampered by the risk of falls and other health issues. One in four adults over age 65 falls each year according to CDC data. And as people age they are also more likely to develop symptoms caused by diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Many seniors retain a certain amount of independence after moving into a senior living facility or hiring a home health nurse. On any given day patients could be on a walk, running errands to the local grocery store or taking part in a number of other activities that put them outside of a care provider’s reach. Normally, if an accident occurred in a situation like this the care provider would not know until the person missed a meal or medical check-in. Precious minutes of response time could be lost without the aid of clinical wearable devices like mPERS.

mPERS (mobile personal emergency response system) devices share some functionality with cell phones, like the ability to place a call for help, mPERS devices are more versatile and feature specific. Typically, a smart phone only has enough battery life for a few days of use, and unless a specialty application or feature is enabled on the phone, it cannot be used to locate a person easily. Smart phones also cannot detect if an accident like a fall occurs or place an automatic call for help.

mPERS devices are not only to detect a fall they go beyond the capabilities of a cell phone and are able to auto-dial family or a response team for help if a fall occurs. The battery life of mPERS devices is far superior to smart phones, lasting up to 30 days in sleep mode. Most devices feature an SOS button that can easily be pressed in an emergency without the need to focus on dialing numbers. Caregivers of patients with dementia can also benefit from the on-demand location services of mPERS devices. An mPERS device can be relied on to accurately provide a patient’s location to family members or a caregiver, all with a simple press of a button.

mPERS devices are not the outdated “senior” technology many people are familiar with, the button you wear and push when you fall.  This type of technology only works within a certain range or a central call box. If a person falls in the yard or needs navigational assistance away from the senior living facility this technology cannot be activated to call for help. On the other hand, mPERS devices are designed to work anywhere and feature a two-way speaker so caregivers can speak and listen to the patient. mPERS are the all-in-one solution that deliver peace of mind, improve security and quality of life for aging adults and their care givers.

mPERS should be viewed as a tool that can enhance life, not make a person feel old and feeble. They can help caregivers monitor patient location in an emergency and enable care to be mobile, fitting each patient’s activity level and preferred lifestyle. Overall patients, their families and care providers are all given peace of mind knowing the mPERS device provides a lifeline to help should one ever be needed.

The post OP-ED: Wearable Technology Can Enhance Long Term Patient Care appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

The enterprise wearable camera market continues to see growth through law enforcement, field services, and first responder applications due to their ability to collect evidence and record interactions.

ABI Research forecasts enterprise wearable camera shipments will reach nearly 24 million in 2022.

Yet as growth fuels, so do privacy and data protection concerns, the provided report summary notes.

“Despite clear advantages to the usage of this technology, enterprises fear attacks from cybercriminals and data theft,” says Stephanie Lawrence, Research Analyst at ABI Research. “With massive data leaks often reaching mainstream news, public concern is rising over the security of wearable camera recordings, including who has access to such footage and for how long.”

The findings are included in ABI Research’s Enterprise Wearable Cameras: Devices, Use Cases, and Supplier Ecosystem Analysis report available here.

The post ABI: Enterprises Must Establish Clear Security Protocols for Wearables appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

That’s the official announcement from the International Data Corporation (IDC). The IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker indicates that companies shipped a total of 24.7 million wearable devices during 1Q17, up 17.9% from the 20.9 million units shipped in 1Q16.

“Fitbit finds itself in the midst of a transformation as user tastes evolve from fitness bands to watches and other products,” noted Ramon Llamas, research manager for IDC’s Wearables team. “This allowed Xiaomi to throttle up on its inexpensive devices within the China market and for Apple to leverage its position as the leading smartwatch provider worldwide. Now that Xiaomi and Apple have supplanted Fitbit, the next question is whether they will be able to maintain their position.

“However, by no means should Fitbit be removed from the wearables conversation,” continued Llamas. “With a user base of 50 million, a strong presence within corporate wellness, and assets that keep it top of mind for digital health, Fitbit is well positioned to move into new segments and markets.”

“The market is arguably still in the first phase of development, where companies are focused on seeding wearables into the market,” said Jitesh Ubrani senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “It’s all about getting people accustomed to the idea of wearing a device. And the opportunity remains very enticing for traditional and fashion watch brands as the scale of the consumer electronics market far surpasses their world.

“The second phase of development will be all about putting user data to good use,” continued Ubrani. “This is when step counts translate into healthier hearts and minds. And it’s also when we will start to see devices that actually augment our abilities and make our lives easier or more productive rather than just being another screen we keep an eye on.”

The post Mobile Tech on the Move: IDC Sees Q1 Spike in Wearables appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

Designed to improve workforce management for hospitality, retail and transportation markets, the solution takes capabilities typically associated with smartphones, and brings them to the wearable world—enabling businesses to more easily deploy and manage wearables for enterprise use.

The Samsung and Hipaax solution delivers hands-free technology that lets businesses customize a wearable interface based on company needs and provide a gamified experience for employees.

Integration of the Samsung Gear S3 or Gear S2 smartwatch and the Hipaax task management platform ensures workers get important notifications via wearable, accelerating employee responses to workplace tasks and communications among teammates.

Samsung will be demonstrating the Hipaax TaskWatch solution at this year’s IoT World event in Orlando, Florida, May 16 – 18th, at the Samsung booth (#210).

The post Samsung Steps Up Its Game in Wearables appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

Based on the data provided, these devices boost patient healthcare both inside and outside of hospital settings.

“A surge in healthcare patient monitoring wearables will soon help reduce readmission risks and better prevent the occurrence of serious medical traumas, alleviating growing performance pressures on healthcare services,” the report summary explains.

ABI Research forecasts the patient monitoring wearable market, which includes remote and on-site devices, will grow from 8 million shipments in 2016 to 33 million in 2021.

Device types are diverse and include staples like blood pressure monitors, continuous glucose monitors, and pulse oximeters, as well as newer devices like Fatigue Science’s fatigue monitoring wearable.

“While previously professional-grade patient monitoring largely limited itself to a doctor’s rounds, new wearables allow medical professionals to remotely and continuously monitor patients in the hospital and beyond,” says Stephanie Lawrence, Research Analyst at ABI Research. “The devices send real-time alerts regarding any condition deteriorations or fluctuations, in effect reducing response times to potentially life-threatening changes and saving the healthcare system resources in the long term.”

The post Which Mobile Tech Market is Poised for Surprisingly Big Gains? appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

And the trend isn’t likely to change in 2017.

That’s per the findings of the International Data Corporation (IDC).

The global ICT research and consulting services firm said in a release that the Middle East and Africa (MEA) wearables market grew 38.3% year on year in Q3 2016 to total approximately 487,000 units.

The growth is being driven by low-cost basic wearables (i.e., devices that do not support third-party applications), which grew 55.9% year on year, while shipments of smart wearables (i.e., devices that do support third-party applications) increased 4.1% over the same period.

“Buyers for smart wearables are limited as the main application for these devices is fitness, which is an area that basic wearables also cater for at a much lower cost,” says Nakul Dogra, a senior research analyst for personal computing, systems, and infrastructure solutions at IDC MEA. “Basic wearables continue to experience higher uptake as their already-low prices are declining further still in a bid to drive differentiation, since there is little to separate the offerings in terms of functionality.”

IDC expects the MEA wearables market to total 1.96 million units for 2016 as a whole, which represents an increase of 38.4% on 2015. Looking ahead, the market is tipped to grow a further 22.6% in 2017 to reach 2.4 million units for the year. The uptake of wearables has been relatively slow in MEA when compared to other regions, so there is still plenty of room for adoption and continued steady growth over the coming years. New product launches in the earwear and clothing categories will also fuel further growth.

To keep pace with the changes taking place in this fast-moving market, IDC has launched its Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, “which assists vendors that are looking to enter this market, promote new product developments, or accelerate the growth of their wearables divisions.”

To learn more, click here.

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