By Telecom Lead Team: Seiko Epson has entered into sporting
goods market, as it claims to develop the world’s lightest GPS-enabled running
monitor.
The monitor uses GPS to provide runners with accurate
distance, pace and other data. It is designed to be worn on the wrist and
equipped with long battery life.
The entry of Seiko Epson in the electronic sporting goods market projects that the market of GPS
personal tracking is booming globally.
According to ABI Research, GPS personal tracking devices
and applications are likely to grow with a CAGR of 40 percent, with both
markets breaking $1 billion in 2017.
The research says that there is an addressable market of
over 120 million people across these markets alone, with over two million US
elderly using non-GPS Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS). However,
awareness, battery life, economic conditions, and high subscription fees remain
significant barriers. There is also a fear that smartphone applications will
cannibalize the market.
Expected to hit the shelves before the end of 2012 in
Japan, the product is going to compete against a number of existing and new
entrants in this growing market: Garmin, Timex, Polar, Nike/TomTom, Magellan,
Motorola, to name just a few.
The company said that it is looking to cater the sporting
goods market, as demands for running equipment has soared in Japan, Europe,
America, and other developed economies.
Despite its compact size, the monitor has a remarkably
accurate built-in GPS module. Strapped to a wrist, the monitor will provide
runners with accurate performance data on the fly, including distance, pace,
and speed, on any course, so that they can train with maximum effectiveness and
enjoyment.
The running monitor can operate for up to 12 hours on a
full charge with GPS tracking on more than enough time for long-distance
events, from full marathons to trail runs.
The company said that it drew on its extensive experience
and technology in semiconductors and quartz sensing technology to develop a
compact, new high accuracy, low power GPS.
A few months back, Epson
launched Moverio BT-100, its first generation of see-through multimedia
glasses.
The Moverio BT-100 offers the ability to watch a variety
of content through transparent lenses, ensuring users can remain aware of their
surroundings, while viewing content in total privacy.
Danish Khan
editor@telecomlead.com
