Korean tech giant LG has released a new edition for its famed smartwatch, the LG Watch Urbane.
The LG Watch Urbane 2ND Edition LTE comes in timely for the recently made Google announcement regarding cellular support that was coming to Android Wear, and it's one of the pieces that will have that functionality. Read on to know what that brings users.
In a press release, LG has announced that the LTE smartwatch will be compatible for both Android smartphones (base Android 4.4) and iOS (base iOS 7) devices. It allows users to answer calls and check messages, as well as receiving and responding right from their smartwatch – even when the phone is not around.
This means that users can still stay connected while going out for a jog in the park or going to the office, accidentally leaving the phone at home. Talk about continuous user connectivity!
To explain that further, Android Wear product manager Peter Ludwig wrote a blog post detailing how it works.
"As long as your watch and phone are connected to a cellular network, you’ll be able to use your watch to send and receive messages, track fitness, get answers from Google, and run your favorite apps," Ludwig penned. "And yes, you’ll even be able to make and take calls right from your watch, for when your hands are full, or your phone is elsewhere."
This nifty innovation, according to Computer World, will address the need for a growing number of people who aren't used to carrying around both a smartphone and a smartwatch that traditionally connects only via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.
Android Police reported the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE features a classic design in a stainless steel body, coupled with a 1.38-inch full-circle 480 x 480 P-OLED display. It's powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor backed up by 768MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. It has GPS and heart rate sensors, all supplied power by a 570mAh battery. It is IP67 rated for water and dust resistance.
"Staying connected is of the utmost importance to consumers today. With the introduction of the second edition Watch Urbane LTE, consumers have options when it comes to their devices and we are excited to bring the latest to the wearables category," Morris Lee, senior vice president and head of North American sales and marketing, LG Mobile Communications Company, said in the press release.
It will be available for preorder and in-store sales on AT&T starting at $199 with a two-year contract, Nov.13. Verizon also offers it, although for a much pricier $499 full price, or for $449 on a two-year contract.
