CASIO: Announcing a G-SHOCK with world-first functionality, capable of full integration with your smartphone.

CASIO

Full-Scale Smartphone Integration!

G-SHOCK Unveils World's First Feature

While Casio has conquered the world with its globally popular tough watch, the "G-SHOCK," in recent years, they have also actively developed analog models with sophisticated designs and finishes, as well as affordable sports watches. This year, a high-tech innovative model that breaks the conventions of watchmaking has emerged.

Reporting and Writing by Yasuhito Shibuya

Introducing the "Wrist Gear" That Connects to Your Smartphone

The flagship "G-SHOCK" line continues to be robust, but in recent years, Casio has focused on analog models, led by "Oceanus" and "Edifice," that rival dedicated watch brands in quality, including the finishing of cases, bracelets, and dials. However, their commitment to innovative watchmaking, unconstrained by conventional ideas, remains strong, as seen in the "PRO TREK" field gear with built-in sensors for outdoor enthusiasts. This year, 2011, marks a significant return to cutting-edge development for Casio with the announcement of a groundbreaking G-SHOCK prototype capable of full-scale communication and integration with smartphones, slated for productization within the fiscal year.

While mobile phones and watches have been linked before, the functionality was limited to displaying incoming calls on the watch. However, this new G-SHOCK goes further: it can receive accurate time information from the mobile phone network to correct the watch's time, display incoming calls and emails along with caller information if pre-registered, and even control the phone from the watch, such as making the phone ring to help locate it if misplaced. While specific software details are yet to be released, the potential for various functions through software installation on both devices means this will be of great interest to smartphone users.

The Key Technology: A New Bluetooth Communication Standard

This advanced integration is made possible by the newly adopted Bluetooth Low Energy standard, a next-generation Bluetooth wireless communication protocol that consumes 1/150th the power of current Bluetooth standards. The watch is powered by a single coin cell battery, which is expected to last approximately two years under normal usage. While a demonstration of this prototype's connectivity with Android smartphones was shown, it will undoubtedly also work with the iPhone 4. As this standard is planned for integration into various home appliances, future connectivity may extend beyond smartphones to other devices. We eagerly anticipate the realization of PC connectivity as well.

Naturally, limited edition G-SHOCK models in titanium and special models from their sponsorship of the F1 Red Bull Racing team were also announced. The latter is scheduled for a new model reveal in early June, so F1 enthusiasts should definitely keep an eye out for that.

G-SHOCK Prototype
A "Smart" G-SHOCK Supporting Bluetooth Low Energy

This prototype G-SHOCK model enables full-scale communication and integration with smartphones via a new communication standard. Leveraging its two-way capabilities, this "new kind of wrist gear" proposed by Casio holds potential for various developments. It also harbors the possibility of becoming a new type of terminal connected to the network through a smartphone.

Resin case and bracelet, quartz movement, approximately 2-year battery life, planned for release within the year. Price undecided.

Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
0570-088955
http://g-shock.jp/

CITIZEN | See New Models from BASEL WORLD 2011