Apple Continues To Submit Applications For ‘iWatch’ In Several Countries
Image via Flickr/ Brett Jordan
Yesterday Wall Street Insanity reported that Apple had filed a trademark application for the name “iWatch” in Japan, but now news is circulating that Apple has also submitted the application in several other countries, as well.
On Monday, Mark Gurman of 9-to-5 Mac discovered that Apple had also applied in Mexico, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey and Colombia.
The Mexico application lists the Cupertino address and contains a graphic. Says Gurman, “According to these documents, the person who submitted the request for Apple is named Maria Teresa Eljure Tellez. This person is the Head of the Trademark department at Mexico-based law firm Arochi, Marroquín, & Linder, S.C. This firm also appears on other Apple trademarks in Mexico such as for the iPad and other recently launched products.”
Rumors for the iWatch began as early as June. With Apple filing for a trademark in several countries (we expect more to pop up), it’s almost certain that Apple will indeed launch a wearable product; the question is when and what will it feature?
“The product will likely include sensors to gain data about the user in addition to functionality, such as mapping, messaging, and phone apps, that could interact with iOS Devices such as the iPad or iPhone,” says Gurman.
A February article in the New York Times reported that two anonymous sources say the watch will feature curved glass. Bloomberg also reported that the iWatch team consists of roughly 100 people, including a handful that has previously worked on the iPhone and iPad.
Some rumors believe that the iWatch will debut later this year, while others believe it will launch in the second half of 2014.
Says KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable source who has accurately predicted Apple launches and other details, ““Apple may not have adequate resources to develop an iWatch version of iOS because it may require big changes to iPhone and iPad iOS this year. In addition, wearable device components aren’t mature. For these reasons, we think mass production of the iWatch is more likely to begin in 2014, not 2013 as the market speculates.”
