Swatch CEO on iWatch: 'I Don't Believe It's the Next Revolution'

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Posted March 6, 2013 at 6:55pm by Shalom Levytam

Swatch CEO Nick Hayek is skeptical on whether a watch could replace an iPhone, reports Bloomberg.

“Personally, I don’t believe it’s the next revolution,” the chief of the largest Swiss watchmaker said at a press conference on annual results in Grenchen, Switzerland. “Replacing an iPhone with an interactive terminal on your wrist is difficult. You can’t have an immense display.”

Hayek notes that in additional to the small display size, consumers purchase watches as jewelry items and like to change them often. The company did try to sell a watch that worked as a mobile phone years ago. It also formed an alliance with Microsoft in 2004 to create the Swatch Paparazzi watches which could receive personalized information including news, sports, weather, horoscopes, and stock quotes.

Swatch also said it has been in contact with Apple over the years in regards to energy harvesting technology that generates energy from physical movement.

Rumors have been rampant of late that Apple is planning to introduce an iWatch. The company is said to have 100 product designers working on the device that runs a version of iOS.

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Swatch CEO on iWatch: 'I Don't Believe It's the Next Revolution'

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think smart - March 9, 2013 at 1:40pm

think mobile apps, password (2 factor authentication), secure access as proposed by other as winwatch etc.

rockne1865 - March 7, 2013 at 9:43am

Hey I wonder if he hangs out with the guy who said "Nobody is going to want a personal computer!"

rockne1865 - March 7, 2013 at 9:39am

The watch is not meant to replace the IPhone but to interface with it, I would buy it if all it did was tell me when I left my phone behind charging! I hope they use the band for the battery lots of room & you could make a replaceable battery that way you could always have a charged one on hand! It could do blood pressure & pulse rate, time, caller ID vibrate in silent mode no one would hear it you would feel it, a compass, vibrating alarm it would not need any openings for controls because it could be set from the phone! Great for SCUBA there could be diving Apps it could read depth & tempt under water & altitude on the surface all this would be great for doing your decompression charts it could be the ultimate dive watch! It could be a voice controlled Stop Watch! It could tell you how fast your moving running, riding, flying, falling i.e. sky diving! Sorry that's all I could up with in five minutes!

M.e - March 7, 2013 at 12:37am

Nokia said that very same thing about the iphone, you prophet...

Ramtam - March 6, 2013 at 9:01pm

It might not be the a revolution, but it sure will impact sales of regular watches. Be afraid Mr. Swiss man

Simon Tesla - March 6, 2013 at 9:00pm

Ugh, so short sighted - if such a thing exists it's unlikely to be even remotely intended as a replacement for the iPhone. Given how much space might be available for a battery I'd be surprised if it had a cellphone chip at all. Like other Apple products it's more likely to be something intended to create a new niche, like the iPad did. Whether it succeeds or not is another matter of course. My personal entirely-speculation on it - a second display for your iPhone, with a limited input scheme - imagine being able to glance at your wrist when you arrive at the station where you change trains every morning, and see what time and platform your next train is at, the data pulled by some kind of low power wireless from your iPhone.. or being able to play/pause/skip your iTunes/AirPlay without looking for the remote or your phone..

DH - March 6, 2013 at 8:08pm

"I think there is a market for maybe five smartwatches" -- Swatch CEO, 2013.

Steve - March 6, 2013 at 7:12pm

I don't think so.. If it comes, the tribe will buy it.. As long as it connects, recharges via motion, .. A (fashion ? - Brand commitment )statement !

Jack Black - March 6, 2013 at 7:06pm

The I watch will be a horrible flop... And be the beginning of the end for apples reign

Ken - March 6, 2013 at 8:09pm

Are you an analyst? You seem qualified.