Microsoft has joined the race to create a smartwatch device, according to one recent report.
The Wall Street Journal has been informed by executives at suppliers that Microsoft "is working on designs for a touch-enabled watch device."
It's claimed that earlier in the year Microsoft requested components for the new device from Asian suppliers. Among these components is said to be a 1.5-inch display.
However, it's still not certain that Microsoft will move ahead with production of such a device. Microsoft could simply be preparing the way should rival devices prove popular.
Apple, Google and Samsung are all rumoured to be working on smartwatch concepts.
Microsoft smartwatch rivals
Apple apparently has a large design team working on smartwatch concepts, possibly utilising flexible screen technology. Google, for its part, filed a patent application from a dual-screen smartwatch concept back in 2011, and is said to have tasked its Android unit with developing the concept.
Samsung has gone one step further and has officially confirmed that it is working on a new smartwatch device. Last month, Lee Young Hee confirmed that "We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them."
It's believed that these smartwatch devices could act in concert with your smartphone to provide important notifications such as incoming emails, messages, and appointments. The idea would be to make them available at a glance rather than having to fumble in your pocket for your phone.
Are you interested in the whole smartphone concept? If so, which company is likely to make the best example based on previous output? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
