Internet of Things & Wearable Technology Insights

It appears that Microsoft is planning to launch a smartwatch platform later this year. Last month, we heard that Microsoft was planning a device that worked with multiple platforms, and now Tom’s Hardware has corroborated that report with a slew of new details: the Microsoft smartwatch is going to be a sleek, Fuelband-like device, packed with 11 sensors, according to an unidentified source.

The new report adds weight to the notion that Microsoft’s wearable wrist device will work across platforms including iOS and Android in addition to Windows Phone. This is interesting, as Android Wear, which was released last week, appears to work exclusively with Android by design.

While Apple’s smartwatch hasn’t been announced, Apple tends not to support other platforms, and it is unlikely (to put it mildly) that it would release an Android companion app. If Microsoft’s smartwatch is cross-platform and has comparable fitness features to its competitors, it would fill an interesting niche in the market.