Smartwatch wars: Is Pebble gearing up to launch a new device?

TORONTO – It looks like the war of the smartwatches is heating up. Wearable device maker Pebble appears to be gearing up to launch something new.

The company’s website currently features a countdown clock, winding down to reveal something on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. The website reveals no further information – it just offers fans a place to enter their email with a button that reads, “Curious?”

View image in full screen

The Pebble smartwatch – launched by Canadian entrepreneur and former University of Waterloo student Eric Migicovsky in 2012 – set records on crowdfunding site Kickstarter after raising over $10 million in funding.

The device works as an accessory with iOS and Android devices.

Pebble’s announcement comes as the highly-anticipated Apple Watch launch looms. Last week The Wall Street Journal reported Apple was gearing up for a big launch of its first wearable device, ordering as many as six million units from its suppliers.

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the Apple Watch – but Apple has yet to announce an official launch date for the smartwatch, which was unveiled during a press event back in September.

Samsung, Motorola and Google are just some of the other companies with competing devices.

In an interview with The Verge earlier this month, Migicovsky said Pebble users can expect to see new products and a new software platform for its devices.

“It doesn’t look like what we have today, and it doesn’t look like what’s on your smartphone,” said Migicovsky.

Despite facing tough competition from tech giants, Pebble has garnered good reviews and strong sales of its devices. And, earlier this month, Pebble shipped its one millionth smartwatch.

The Pebble Steel was voted “Best overall smartwatch” by Gizmodo in December, thanks to its long lasting battery and versatility. Pebble Steel also made PC Mag’s list of the best smartwatches of 2015.