Fossil launched its first Android smartwatch in 2015.
Fossil was one of many first conventional watchmakers to enter the Android smartwatch scene, however it’s now sunsetting its smartwatch class. Here’s why.
Fossil has introduced that it will cease making smartwatches transferring ahead because it appears to be like to double down on its “core segments.”
For these uninitiated, Fossil, alongside the standard time items, has been making Wear OS smartwatches for some time now and was one of many first few OEMs that launched the preliminary batch of Android Wear Watches.
In an announcement shared with The Verge, Fossil’s CEO Jeff Boyer mentioned, “As the smartwatch landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years, we have made the strategic decision to exit the smartwatch business.”
He added, “Fossil Group is redirecting resources to support our core strength and the core segments of our business that continue to provide strong growth opportunities for us: designing and distributing exciting traditional watches, jewelry, and leather goods under our own as well as licensed brand names.”
The Verge additionally notes that Fossil’s Gen 6 watch will likely be its final smartwatch, however that doesn’t imply the corporate will abandon them. Boyer mentioned that Fossil will proceed to assist the Wear OS watches for the subsequent few years. Also, the watchmaker did not ship a Gen 7 final yr powered by the Qualcomm W5 Plus, however it by no means materialized for launch. Its eventual determination to drag out of the smartwatch market may have been the seemingly motive.
Furthermore, recently, we’ve got seen elevated efforts from each Google and Samsung in direction of their Pixel and Galaxy smartwatches, respectively. This has solely resulted in additional competitors within the Wear OS smartwatches class.
