The smartwatch world has gotten quite a bit more crowded ever since Pebble began shipping its wearable to consumers back in January 2013, with devices coming from Samsung, LG, Sony, Apple and more. Today Pebble announced two ways that it’s fighting off this new smartwatch competition.
First up, Pebble is releasing a software update that allows for activity tracking and sleep monitoring for all of its smartwatches. Pebble wearers can track their activity in the background while keeping their preferred watchface up front.
Pebble is also adding new health apps from Misfit, Jawbone and Swim.com. The updated Misfit app now includes continuous activity and sleep tracing, Jawbone is pushing out an UP app for Pebble and Swim.com allows users to track their distance, pace, time, strokes and efficiency while swimming with their Pebble. That data can automatically be synced to a phone and the cloud.
Pebble is also making its smartwatch available in more retailers. Those include Sam’s Club and Fry’s Electronics in the US, and soon Sprint stores will offer it as well. Pebble devices will hit Dixons, O2 and Amazon in the UK in October, and they’re also arriving in Benelux and Scandanavia tomorrow.
Finally, Pebble’s watches are getting price cuts. The regular Pebble is now $99 / €129 / £99, while the Pebble Steel is now $199 / €229 / £179.
There’s been a lot of focus on fitness tracking as of late, with dedicated hardware like the Jawbone UP launching along with software features for devices like the Samsung Gear S and Apple Watch. Pebble is fighting those watches with its own new fitness goodies, and it’s also undercutting them on price, which makes it much more attractive to potential consumers that are looking at other watches that may have higher-end features but also have higher prices.
How many of you are rocking a Pebble on your wrist right now? If you’re not, are these new features and price cuts enough to get you to buy one?
Via Pebble