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Next Asus ZenWatch to Offer Voice Calling Sans Handset, Launch in Q3 2015

Next Asus ZenWatch to Offer Voice Calling Sans Handset, Launch in Q3 2015

By Robin Sinha | Updated: 26 December 2014 19:21 IST

While launching the Asus ZenWatch in Taiwan, the company CEO Jerry Shen on December 24 also announced that the firm is working on the next generation ZenWatch, currently being tipped as ZenWatch 2. The firm additionally released a few new teasers for its upcoming next generation of ZenFone handsets over the week.

As per the announcement by Shen, the Asus ZenWatch 2 will support independent voice-calling functionality like the Samsung Gear S smartwatch. The watch will support a SIM-card to make calls and will be released in Q3 2015. It is possible a prototype or early version of the device may be showcased at the upcoming CES 2015 event in Las Vegas, or at MWC 2015 in Barcelona later in the year.

The Chinese company is said to launch two more wearable devices other than the ZenWatch that will focus on the user's health and fitness. Also, these fitness-related devices will be priced lower than the Asus ZenWatch 2, as reported by Focus Taiwan.

As for the original ZenWatch, which launched in Taiwan at TWD 5,990 (roughly Rs. 12,000), Shen added that the Android Wear-based smartwatch would roll out in select European markets, China and Hong Kong in the second phase. The watch is available in limited quantities for now and will stay the same until February.

Asus on December 21 and 22 also released two teaser videos for the next generation ZenFone handsets. The YouTube and Facebook videos indicate the smartphones to feature back buttons like seen in LG G2 and LG G3. The details on what functions will be carried by the rear buttons are still scarce. However, the buttons are speculated to act as camera shutter buttons, power buttons or a shortcut key for certain features.

The video also hints at the inclusion of a dual camera sensor like the HTC One (M8). Again, since it was a teaser, the details of the dual sensors are not yet known. The text seen in the teaser - "See what others can't see" suggest the highlight of the handset will be its camera.

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