Apple sparked a revolution in 2007 by putting a computer in people’s pockets and the technology firm may now be poised to put one on people’s wrists.
The world’s most valuable technology company has submitted a patent for the name iWatch in Japan, fuelling speculation that Apple will launch a wearable version of its iPhone later this year.
The application, made June 3 but only revealed last week, categorizes the name as a handheld computer or watch device. Last month Apple also reportedly filed a patent for the name in Russia.
Apple has said it plans to launch new hardware this autumn and reportedly has a team of around 100 product designers working on a wristwatch-like device that could sync with the iPhone or perform similar tasks.
Sony’s SmartWatch, which wirelessly connect to Google’s Android smartphones, has been on the market for a year and Samsung said it was working on its own wristwatch in March.
But Benedict Evans at Enders Analysis thinks Autumn’s launch is unlikely to be a ‘smart’ watch. He said: “In the past trademarks of this kind have not gone out in advance. You didn’t see iPhone before the launch.
“It might just be a defensive thing to stop people trading off Apple’s reputation. They’ve got a lot of patents that they haven’t used.”
Apple appears not to have trademarked iWatch in Europe, where the patented is held by Italian firm Probendi. The applications in Japan and Russia coincide with a new ‘Designed by Apple’ advertising campaign from the San Francisco-based company.
