Samsung Galaxy Gear Sells Over 800,000 Units, Surpasses Critics Expectations
Samsung surpassed many of the expectations for sales of its Galaxy Gear smartwatch as the device moved 800,000 units since its launch in September.
The feat was confirmed in a Reuters report released earlier this week. Market sources cited by the Korea Herald claimed that Samsung only was able to sell less than 50,000 units due to lack of consumer interest and the steep price tag. But this latest report proves that those sales might only reflect the business in one area, which is said to be South Korea.
Samsung invested tens of millions of dollars into the promo for the Galaxy Gear with flashy marketing campaigns, endorsements from sports stars, price cuts and other incentives.
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The company even offered the device for free in certain areas when it was purchased together with the Galaxy Note 3.
The Galaxy Gear was unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 3 earlier this year and is only compatible with handsets running Android 4.3 and higher.
The device improves the smartphone experience by becoming a control panel for various tasks. For example, when the phone is being called the actual screen will appear on the watch, allowing users to either take or ignore the call without having to grab their phone out of their pocket.
It also features Smart Relay that opens up a corresponding app automatically when it sends a notification to the watch.
The Galaxy Gear connects to a smartphone and has the ability to track it down if it has been misplaced or lost. The Find My Device feature allows users to remotely activate sounds and vibrations to make it easier for them to locate their smartphone. It also works vice versa as the connected phone could be used to find the watch.
