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Qualcomm sets a $349 price tag for its Toq smartwatch, to launch on Cyber Monday (Dec 2)

By Chris P.

Published: Nov 18, 2013, 7:50 AM

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Android

Qualcomm sets a $349 price tag for its Toq smartwatch, to launch on Cyber Monday (Dec 2)

Silicon slinger Qualcomm's Toq smartwatch has been on our radar since early September, and while details were mostly abundant, two essential questions remained unanswered – price and release date.

This has now been taken care of, as Qualcomm has just outed a press release, announcing a price of $349 for the Toq, and a December 2nd launch. These as you could guess have left us with some mixed feelings. Said otherwise, while we're happy to see the smartwatch finally become available (and in time for the holidays), the rather steep price bugs us a bit. That's actually higher than Samsung's Galaxy Gear, and even more so than Sony's SmartWatch 2, putting Qualcomm's Toq at a disadvantage right off the bat. The only question at this point is, whether the Toq will manage to pull its weight in terms of specs and performance, at least enough to justify its price...

Speaking of specs, the things that we do know at this point include the highlight of the watch – its 1.55-inch Mirasol transflective screen. That one is touted as a game-changer, as it uses the often abundant light around you instead of a backlight, conserving battery and allowing for proper outdoors usage. Moreover, Qualcomm promises “an always-on experince with multiple days of battery life”, which is quite impressive.

The rest of the Toq will be a tad more familiar – it still needs to be tethered to an Android 4.0.3 or above smartphone via Bluetooth, for example. Qualcomm is also making a Bluetooth stereo headset available for a true wires-free experience. Wireless charging has also been weaved into the Toq. In fact, ease-of-use has taken a pretty central role in the Toq – the smartwatch features no ports nor buttons, you control it by pressing the watchband instead.

There's still no word on what exactly will be powering the Toq from the inside, though we expect these to become available soon. In any case, and despite the awesome-sounding display panel, a $349 price tag is probably sure to deter a reasonable portion of potential early-adopters, especially since most rivals are pricing theirs a tad more competitively.

SAN DIEGO – November 18, 2013 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Inc., will make its Qualcomm Toq™ (‘talk’) smartwatch available to consumers on Cyber Monday, December 2, 2013. Toq is compatible with Android™ smartphones* and features proprietary Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.’s Qualcomm Mirasol™ display technology, providing an always-on experience with multiple days of battery life and visibility even in bright sunlight. Toq starts at $349.99 and will be available through toq.qualcomm.com.

“The Toq smartwatch showcases key Qualcomm innovations, such as Mirasol always on low power display, AllJoyn interactions and WiPower LE wireless charging, that will define the emerging wearable category,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm. “Like a traditional watch, Toq displays information at a glance with no on/off switch. And paired with a smartphone to receive notifications and content, it allows the watch to seamlessly merge our physical and digital lives. Leveraging these and other industry-leading technologies, we and our partners will enable new product opportunities and consumer experiences.”

As previously announced, this limited edition smartwatch will leverage breakthrough technologies necessary to deliver compelling user experiences on wearable devices. Of note, Toq demonstrates the benefits of significant technologies, such as:
• Mirasol display technology – always on, always visible reflective display technology that utilizes ambient light to enable a crisp and clear viewing experience even in bright sunlight;
• Qualcomm WiPower™ LE technology – enables a hassle-free, true “drop and go” wireless charging experience; and
• Stereo Bluetooth audio experience – first truly wireless stereo headphones that sit outside the ear canal for all day comfort and wearability

Using Bluetooth® wireless technology, Toq allows consumers to accept/reject calls, view text messages and meeting alerts, and selectively receive notifications from their smartphone or AllJoyn-enabled devices directly from their wrist. Qualcomm will continue adding functionality to Toq through software upgrades. Consumers also will be armed with preloaded weather and stock applets from AccuWeather and E*TRADE. For more information about Qualcomm Toq, please visit http://toq.qualcomm.com.

*Android 4.0.3 and above, 4.3 Jelly Bean preferred

About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.