WSJ report uncovers more info on ZTE's upcoming smartwatch

Last week, we told you that China based manufacturer ZTE would be offering a smartwatch in 2014. That report was echoed in Monday's Wall Street Journal, which featured a interview with the company's head of handset marketing, Lu Qianhao. During his chat with the paper, the executive said that ZTE would be unveiling a timepiece in Q1 of 2014 with the launch taking place the following quarter.

Originally, ZTE will sell its smartwatch only in China but does want to sell the product in the U.S. and Europe. The watch will offer the same features as Samsung's Galaxy Gear timepiece, but at a lower price. The first model will be compatible with ZTE's smartphones only, but eventually the company would like to produce smartwatches that work with all Android models.

Lu Qianhao added that ZTE would be interested in other wearable devices such as a Google Glass type product and shoes that connect via smartphone for health related reasons. The company is looking to battle a declining marketshare for smartphones in China where it ranked seventh based on shipments. ZTE now has a 5% market share in its own country, cut in half from last year. Samsung was the leader with 21% of the Chinese smartphone market followed by Lenovo and Coolpad with 13% and 11% respectively. ZTE is hoping that producing the smartwatch helps it pick up smartphone share in its backyard.

source: WSJ