Dell is looking into wearable technology, as it starts to really feel the effects of a decreasing PC market.
According to Sam Burd, Dell’s Global Vice President of PC , Dell is already “exploring ideas in that space” and could introduce wearable tech devices to support its ailing PC sales.
“We haven’t announced anything [re: wearable devices], but we are looking at the technology in that space”, said Burd to The Guardian.
“There are challenges in cost, and how to make it a really good experience. But the piece that’s interesting is that computers are getting smaller. Having a watch on your wrist – that’s pretty interesting, pretty appealing.”
Wearable devices like Google Glass or smartwatches like the recently unveiled Sony SmartWatch 2 or the Bluetooth-connected Pebble watch has meant that body-worn computers have become a hot topic in the tech and consumer world alike.
“Looking ahead five years, we expect devices and form factors to continue to change. There will still be a need for ‘static’ computing on desktops, but there will be a real need for mobile devices. There’s a lot of discussion about how that fits into wearable devices like we’ve seen with Google Glass and watches. We’re looking at a world of lots of connected devices.”
Apple, Samsung, Foxconn, LG and Philips are all supposedly working on wearable tech devices such as the long rumoured Apple iWatch.
Dell’s PC revenue dropped by 9 per cent for the three months ending in May to $8.9 billion (£5.8 billion) in comparison to the same period in 2012. Its income fell to $224 million (£148 million), down 65 per cent from the same time last year, equating to a 2.5 per cent profit margin.
“Businesses are slow to adopt a new operating system. But tablets really need Windows 8 to sell well. Still, it is encouraging to see some businesses deploying Windows 8 and tablets. It’s going to take some time, and the jury is still out.”
Burd admitted that Dell has only sold “hundreds of thousands” of its Windows RT Dell XPS-10 and Windows 8 Dell Latitude 10 tablets, so an expansion into the wearable device market may aid its dwindling PC-based sales.
Next, read our pick of the best Windows 8 laptops, tablets, convertibles and PCs.
