Global Shipment of Wearable Bands Devices to Exceed 17 M. Units in 2014: Canalys

Despite having gotten under way only in the second half of 2013, the global market for wearable bands is expected to grow explosively this year, with overall shipments of basic and smart wearable bands predicted to exceed 17 million units, according to Canalys, a U.S.-based market research firm.

Canalys pointed out that Fitbit, a maker of smart wristbands, commanded over a half of the market for basic wearable bands in the second half of last year, when it launched its Flex and Force models. Samsung, a supplier of smart watches, accounted for 54% of all shipment of smart wearable bands during the period.

Canalys forecasts that global shipments of smart watches, driven mainly by Samsung's Galaxy Gear, a brand which has captured the attention of consumers worldwide (although sales growth remains lukewarm), will shoot up to 8 million units this year, compared to 1.6 million units in the second half of last year, and skyrocket to over 23 million units in 2015 and 45 million in 2017.

Meanwhile, market demand for basic wearable bands, also known as smart wristbands, is expected to be even stronger than that for smart watches in the year ahead, since basic wearable bands have been widely accepted by end-users of sports and fitness equipment, noted Canalys.

One of the most promising applications of wearable devices, Canalys indicated, is healthcare, as people today are increasingly concerned about their health. This year is expected to see the advent of ever more innovative products and wearable electronics, perhaps bringing a revolution to the medical and healthcare sectors. This trend, in turn, will motivate more developers of advanced sensor technology to explore this potentially lucrative segment.

Canalys feels that prospects are good for Android to become the main operating system used in wearable electronic devices, though existing operating software for such devices still needs time for further improvement and optimization. (SC)

Global Market Share of Top 3 Brands of Wearable Electronics Devices in 2nd Half 2013
Basic Wearable Bands			Smart Wearable Bands
Ranking	Brand	Market Share	Ranking	Brand	Market Share
1	Fitbit	58%	1	Samsung	54%
2	Jawbone	21%	2	Sony	19%
3	Nike	14%	3	Pebble	16%
Others		8%	Others		11%

Source: Canalys