Before the Apple Watch hits the market, Pebble is expected to unveil a new model next week
Not fazed by the Apple Watch, a new Pebble smart watch is in the works. The company updated its site today with a countdown that ends next Tuesday morning.
And more than likely, Pebble is planning to unveil a new edition of its smart watch. A new report from 9to5Mac says that the update will usher in new hardware and software.
As for the watch itself, the new Pebble will reportedly feature a wider body with a color e-paper display. All of this will be in a thinner design than the original Pebble or Pebble Steel.
The watch may also offer a built-in microphone, which could bring a number of new possibilities to the already robust ecosystem of apps. The site’s sources also say that the software has been redesigned and will be a major change from the current edition.
Back in January, Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky announced that the company has sold more than 1 million smart watches. He also promised that new software and hardware would be unveiled sometime in 2015.
Currently, you can purchase the original Pebble for $99. The higher-end Pebble Steel is $199.
We’ll definitely let you know what Pebble unveils next week. I suspect it will be the rumored new hardware and software. With the Apple Watch scheduled to hit the market sometime in April, the company needs to show its hand before the onslaught of publicity about that device begins.
I’ve been a Pebble user for quite a while, and am excited to see what the company can come up with next. I think the price of the new device will be especially important. If it can come in substantially lower than the Apple Watch’s $349 starting price, it has a great chance to succeed with iPhone users looking for a less expensive alternative.
For other recent news, see: Recent hires lend some credence to Apple car rumors and Samsung finally gets serious about mobile payments and purchases Apple Pay competitor LoopPay.
