A series of trademarks filed by Apple in the U.S. and Europe indicates once again that some sort of Apple-made wearable is imminent. The trademarks relate to Apple’s HealthKit app—launching in iOS 8 later this fall—and mentions classifications for watches, fitness sensors and medical devices; basically every kind of wearable one can think of.
The two filings together cover a wide breadth of classifications—in the U.S. Apple files for trademarks concerning computer software, which covers HealthKit. Meanwhile, the filing in Europe details a number of goods and services concerning wearable devices.
List of goods and services: Health, fitness, exercise and wellness sensor, monitors and displays; medical apparatus and devices… Horological and chronometric instruments; watches; clocks; timepieces; chronographs for use as timepieces; chronometers; watch straps; watch bands; cases for watches, clocks and horological and chronometric instruments; parts for watches, clocks and horological and chronometric instruments; jewelry.
We still don’t know for sure if Apple will indeed introduce its own wearable, but all signs indeed point to yes. Along with that, it appears Apple is planning for a wave of third-party companies to get involved when iOS 8 is officially made available this fall.
Apple has been slowly accumulating a dream team of experienced fitness professionals that many assume are working on some sort of health-focused watch, which we expect to be announced this fall. With other big companies having already jumped into the smartwatch market, all eyes are currently on Apple to see how the company responds.
The thing about the iWatch is that even though we’ve heard a number of reports claiming it exists, we haven’t actually seen any physical evidence. We pretty much know what to expect with the iPhone 6, but Apple’s wearable is still a big mystery. These trademarks don’t really reveal anything new, but they do suggest the company has something significant up its sleeve.
We could see what Apple has been working on as early as October.
Source: USPTO
Via: 9to5Mac