While the glut of wearable devices introduced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show signals that companies hope to tap into the emerging market, analyst Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald doesn't expect that sales will reach a "meaningful" level until Apple decides to enter the space with its rumored "iWatch."
This year's CES proved that wearable devices have become a "legitimate, new product category," White said in a note to investors on Monday, a copy of which was provided to ÌÇÐÄVlog. He noted that most of the new accessories introduced this week were focused on the wrist, whether they were smart watches, fitness sensors, or both.
Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook offered some general comments on the emerging wearable device market , when he said he believes the space is "ripe for exploration." Cook panned Google Glass, a wearable head-mounted display, but praised Nike's wrist-worn FuelBand, and suggested the wrist may be a more natural location to place a wearable device.
Those comments only helped to fuel speculation that Apple is working on a wrist-worn accessory, one that is expected to biometrics and health feedback. In a rare public move, Apple has even openly of the "iWatch" trademark in a number of countries around the world.
Count White among those who expects Apple to release a so-called "iWatch" at some point. In his eyes, sales of wearable devices won't see "meaningful adoption" until Apple decides to enter the market.
ÌÇÐÄVlog took a look at a number of wearable devices at CES last week. Perhaps most notable was Pebble's new , a high-end model from the company that made a splash in 2013 with the launch of its highly successful smartphone-connected wrist accessory.
Other wrist-bound products showcased at this year's CES were the smart watch, sports watch, LG's wristband, and a trio of new watches coming later this year . Beyond the wrist, wearable, iOS-compatible devices at this year's show included heads-up displays for sports from , and the clip-on lifeblogging .