Samsung’s new smart watch rings alarm bells for US Apple

Samsung unveiled its latest smartwatch on Tuesday as the South Korean tech giant seeks to challenge Apple’s global domination in the fast-growing wearable device market. The round-faced Gear S2 is fitted with a 1.2-inch (30 millimetre) circular screen and allows for mobile payment and remote control over home appliances as well as common phone calls and text messaging features, according to a company statement. 

Samsung is hoping the new watch will compete with similar Apple <g data-gr-id="23">products,</g> after the US company became the top provider of wearable devices worldwide only months after the Apple Watch was unveiled in April. The new smartwatch — the latest model by Samsung since last November — will be officially released later this month during the IFA trade fair in Berlin. 

Samsung has released a series of smartwatches since 2013. However, most of the models have been met with lukewarm responses from consumers. Apple has dominated the wearable device sector, shipping about four million <g data-gr-id="19">smartwatches</g> globally in the second quarter — about 75 <g data-gr-id="20">per cent</g> of the overall market — market researcher Strategy Analytics estimated in July.

Meanwhile, taxi service provider Meru on Tuesday launched first-of-its-kind <g data-gr-id="16">ride sharing</g> service ‘CarPool’ for its customers across the country. Integrated into the Meru Cabs mobile app, CarPool offers the ‘personal car’ <g data-gr-id="17">ride sharing</g> option for people travelling in the same direction or area. 

“This is a pure customer to customer service, and we are making it available across the country,” Siddhartha Pahwa, chief executive of Meru Cabs, said. “We are currently not <g data-gr-id="73">monetising</g> it, but we will work towards charging a margin fee in future once the service is well established.” The company will conduct thorough credential checks of all the customers who  offer to give rides to people, including taking their details  of driving licence, Aadhar  and PAN.