Some time ago we’ve told you that Samsung is working on a smart watch that has its own SIM card and can work without a smartphone connection. Now we have The Wall Street Journal confirming the existence of the so called Gear Solo, adding that such device could be out as early as June or July of this year. What’s more, the company is already pitching carriers in Europe, U.S. and South Korea, most likely arguing that this could be another device users would buy, thus increasing the operators’ ARPU along the way.
While we dig the benefits of a stand-alone watch in some cases — think: children safety and caring for the elderly — we’re not sure that the majority of users would be quick to sign-up for yet another contract, no matter how affordable it could seem. Adding another $10 on top of what you currently spend on your mobile service doesn’t sound much but it all adds up over time.
In that sense, we can see why Samsung would want to take this route. With this kind of watch, any marketing costs would be split between them and the carrier actually selling the watch. Sounds like a plan, don’t you think?