MWC: Sony SmartBand ready for market

After introducing its wearable technology at CES 2014, Sony Mobile announced at the Mobile World Congress that the SmartBand and Lifelog application will be available worldwide from March 2014.

‚”At CES 2014, I introduced the SmartWear Experience as representing emotion as well as motion moving, and being moved,‚” said Kunimasa Suzuki. ‚”Now we can reveal exactly what this means, as we bring our first products to market this spring SmartBand and its innovative core extend beyond fitness tracking, to add colourful, fun entertainment experiences to users’ lives. Entertainment is a part of Sony’s ethos it’s our culture.‚”

SmartWear Experience is a new user experience that makes life more fun and entertaining. It is built around three key pillars ‚”Lifelogging‚”, ‚”Wearing Smart‚” and ‚”Life tools‚”.

‚”SmartBand stands for flexibility. The SmartWear Experience is about emotion as well as motion, bringing together entertainment and information in a creative way,‚” says Mark Fenzel, Sales Director Middle East and Africa, Sony Mobile Communications.

Lifelog application – Communication and entertainment, staying on top of the things that matter to you

Sony’s new Lifelog application binds the SmartWear Experience with a tablet or phone, enabling you to discover your past, enjoy your present and helping inspire your future. Together with the SmartBand, the Android app enables you to capture life and entertainment – places visited, music listened to, games played, books read – and presents it in a great looking interface.

You can see how see where you were, where you went, what pictures you took and how you have been communicating with the world. Lifelog will also help you set activity goals, monitor your progress and makes recommendations to help inform future decisions.

Connection to the SmartBand is as simple a pushing a button to pair via NFC or Bluetooth, the sign-in using a Sony Entertainment Network account.

Flexible style Technology you can wear your way, and use your way too

The SmartBand is a 24/7 wearable device: fully waterproof (rated IP58) despite its exposed Micro-USB port. It is light, so can be carried or worn as you wish, to fit your lifestyle.

Initially available in Black, a variety of vibrant colour styles will be available after launch including a special limited edition to celebrate the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Life tools Smart, subtle, intuitive notifications

The wearable technology in SmartBand SWR10 synchronizes with the Lifelog app via Bluetooth and NFC. When out of range (up to 10m) from the smartphone, a vibrating alert will prompt you to let you know. The SmartBand will also measure your sleep cycle and features a silent alarm. And, when calls, messages, likes or tweets are received, the SmartBand will vibrate to notify you.

It can also be used to play, pause and skip tracks in Walkman app by pressing the button, and tapping the band.

Open hardware and software ecosystem matching external creativity with in-house prowess

The SmartWear Experience is built on open principles and Sony is engaging with creatives from across the fashion, design and developer spectrum to broaden the range of experiences and offer consumers more choice more details will follow in the coming months.

The SmartBand SWR10 and Lifelog application will be available in South Africa from the second quarter of 2014.

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