Swatch Group Will Launch Smart Watches

Recently, Swatch group confirmed that smart watches will be listed in three months and compete directly with Apple Watch.

Mr. Hayek also revealed this.

It will have instant messaging, mobile payment capabilities, and compatible with Microsoft and Android systems.

This is obviously a tit for tat gesture with Apple Corp. The upcoming Apple Watch will also include communication and payment functions, as well as health tracking applications.

Regarding payment functions, Mr. Hayek also said that Migros and Coop, the largest two retailers in Switzerland, have accepted the Swatch group's smart watch payment system, and the company is also on the line with more.

Negotiation - the payment function is one of the highlights of Apple Watch.

In 2014, the smart watch market with telephone or data communication function was about $1 billion 800 million.

Citibank analysts predicted last year that the figure would reach $10 billion by 2018, half of which were traditional watch wearers.

Swatch group has decades of experience in technology development, and has set up a patent application record in 2014, including new materials battery capable of doubling the performance (ultra thin flexural). Its Tissot has started using touch screens as early as 1999, providing high meter, compass and diving depth.

Mr. Hayek said that these patents will be applied to new products.

Some of these technologies will also be used in other industries in the future, for example, battery technology can be applied to the automotive industry.

But what's interesting is that

Mister has been skeptical about the potential of smart watches.

Two years ago, he had said that he did not think that smart watches would subvert the whole industry, and repeatedly stressed that the smart watch screen was too small for communication and needed repeated charging.

Last year also said that because of consumer boycott, Swatch group will not participate in the first competition of smart watches.

Recently, the Swatch group released its annual performance report for 2014: Group sales of 9 billion 219 million Swiss francs, higher than the 9 billion 193 million Swiss francs compiled by Reuters analysts, an increase of 4.6% over the same period last year, an increase of 6.1% over the same period.

Due to increased investment and strong Swiss franc, net profit of 1 billion 416 million Swiss francs was lower than the 1 billion 529 million Swiss francs compiled by Reuters analysts.

Swatch shares have fallen by 11% due to the cancellation of the Swiss Franc ceiling on the euro.

But the Swatch group said it is still in a "strong position", and its brands have also adjusted the price, and the price of individual markets has increased by 5% to 7%.

And claims that the production and distribution network will help companies achieve double-digit growth in sales and achieve substantial profits, and the company will further expand its production base in Switzerland.

The Swatch group has acquired the Harry Winston and the Dubai retail group Rivoli, which used the local currency to ease the impact of the Swiss franc.

Swatch group said in a statement that after the strong Swiss Franc in December 2014, sales in January 2015 were strong (in local currency).

To show confidence, the company proposes that 7.50 of the Swiss francs per share will be distributed on the bearer share, and the dividend will be 1.50 Swiss francs per share.