New York – T-Mobile and AT&T said they will carry Samsung’s recently announced Gear S smart watch in the fall.
Neither offered a price or specific availability date, but AT&T said the device would be available for preview in 125 AT&T stores across the nation on Sept. 26. T-Mobile said it would offer the device under its Equipment Installment Plan (EIP).
Gear S features a curved display, uses the company’s Tizen OS, and features 2G/3G cellular and Wi-Fi so users can get social-network updates and send and receive texts even if they’re away from their smartphone.
Users can also connect to their smartphone via Bluetooth to make and receive calls from their wrist, and when away from the phone, they can receive 2G and 3G calls and text messages forwarded from a compatible Samsung smartphone.
The Samsung Gear S, which doubles as a music player and fitness tracker, is built on the company’s Tizen OS and downloads Samsung apps. The company also offers smart watches based on Google’s Android Wear OS.
The smart watch and a companion Bluetooth headset, the Samsung Gear Circle, will be available globally in a phased rollout starting October. Pricing wasn’t announced.
The Gear S features a curved 2-inch 360×480 Super AMOLED display, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Users can switch between 3G and Bluetooth connections and automatically synchronize information when paired to a smartphone.
It comes with turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation provided by Nokia HERE and with a 24-hour news service from The Financial Times.
For health and fitness enthusiasts, the Gear S features built-in GPS, multiple sensors, Samsung’s S Health applications, and such applications as Nike+ Running, making fitness tracking possible without a connected smartphone.
The separately sold stereo Bluetooth headset can be used with the watch to receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands. It features aptX streaming over Bluetooth, a magnetic lock that clasps around the user’s neck when not in use, and a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications.
The watch features P67 certification for dust and water resistance, dual-core 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, multiple music and video codecs, 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS/Glonass GPS, Bluetooth 4.1, and USB 2.0. Sensors include accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, hear-rate monitor, ambient light, and barometer.
