AT&T says it will be the first carrier to sell LG smartwatch

Wednesday, 9 July 2014 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

WASHINGTON (Reuters): AT&T Inc said on Monday it will be the first US wireless carrier to sell LG Electronics’ smartwatch, a wrist watch that connects to Android phones and answers voice commands, and goes on sale on 11 July.

The announcement comes as demand for wearable devices surges. Juniper Research estimates the value of the wearable device market this year at $ 1.5 billion (880 million pounds), up from $ 800 million in 2013. The LG “G Watch,” which was made in partnership with Google Inc, will sell for $ 299 and available for pre-orders starting 8 July. It has a 1.65 inch display screen that delivers notifications customers receive on their Android phones and can connect to calendars and applications. “Because the LG G Watch works with so many of our Android smartphones, it should be a wearable device that appeals to a wide array of consumers,” Jeff Bradley, Senior Vice President of devices at AT&T, said in a statement. “Its ability to anticipate your schedule and travelling needs will help you plan your schedule more efficiently while on-the-go.” The announcement also comes as rumours swirl about the specifications on Apple Inc’s smartwatch, which has yet to be announced, but is expected as early as October.