Samsung Electronics Co. said
its Galaxy Gear has become
the world's most popular smartwatch
with sales reaching 800,000 since its
debut two months ago, defying some
market concerns the accessory would
fail due to a lack of compelling
features.
The South Korean firm said Gear
sales have been better than its own
expectations and it would expand
sales promotions for the wearable
device for the crucial year-end
holiday sales.
Samsung has poured marketing
resources into the Gear with heavy
advertisements and collaborations
with fashion shows to seize
leadership in the wearable computer
market after the device got off to a
rocky start after being critically
panned by reviewers.
Well-known tech reviewer David
Pogue, who recently left the New
York Times to start a new consumer-
tech web site at Yahoo, described its
design "inconsistent and frustrating"
and recommended nobody buy it.
The product marks Samsung's latest
attempt to prove that it is more than
just a fast follower in innovation
behind Apple Inc. The Cupertino
California-based firm is widely
speculated by media and analysts to
be working on wearable device.
Priced at around $300, the Gear
works as an accessory to its market
leading Galaxy smartphone, with a
small OLED screen offering basic
functions like photos, hands-free
calls and message notifications.
Market expectations on the device
have been not so strong, as it has
only around 70 dedicated
applications.
UK retailer Phones4U offered the
Gear for free to consumers buying
the Galaxy Note3 on contract earlier
this month, while earlier media
reports said that the device was
suffering some 30 percent of return
rates in U.S. stores of Best Buy.
"It's the most sold wearable watch
available in the market place...and we
plan to expand its availability by
expanding mobile devices that work
with the Gear," Samsung said in a
statement.
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