Fitbit’s next release could be quite a departure from its usual fare: a 4G-equipped wearable for kids, capable of making video calls.
It wouldn’t be the company’s first wearable aimed at youngsters – it released the Fitbit Ace in 2018, and the Fitbit Ace 2 arrived in 2019. However, both of these were fairly simple activity trackers, recording steps, active minutes and sleeping patterns. This would be something very different.
According to a source speaking to Engadget, a much more powerful and sophisticated kids’ smartwatch will launch later this year, and Fitbit has purchased Hong Kong-based startup Doki Technologies to help make the wearable a reality.
While there is no official word from either Fitbit or Doki Technologies, the latter has notified its customers that its products will stop working as of July 1, 2020. Doki is known for making the world’s first smartwatch for kids featuring video calling, with a few products – dokiWatch, dokiWatch S and dokiPal – in its catalog.
4G-enabled
While the Ace trackers are no-frills wearables, this rumored smartwatch will likely offer more advanced features, one of which will be 4G connectivity – meaning kids will be able to make calls to parents, much like Australian company Spacetalk’s kids smartwatch. It should also allow parents to send messages and keep tabs on their kids’ location at all times.
What else will be on offer and whether it will share the same ‘squircle’ design of the Versa and Versa 2 smartwatches (or just a square display like the Ionic) remains to be seen.
