Sony Developing E-Paper Smartwatch for Next Year: Report

Sony is reportedly making an e-paper display smartwatch which might come "as soon as next year."

According to people familiar with the matter, the complete smartwatch (including watch face and the wrist band) will be made from a patented material which will allow the entire surface area to function as a display and could change its appearance, reports Bloomberg.

While the sources didn't reveal many details about the alleged smartwatch, they suggested that the company will focus more on style, rather than the functionality or specifications like Apple Watch and company's own smartwatch lineup.

The report further says that "Chief Executive Officer, Kazuo Hirai, formed a business creation division this year under his direct control to fast-track promising products, and the watch is one of the effort's first results."

Apart from the e-paper watch, Sony is reported to be working on a new project, called the MESH, made by its new business creation division. MESH will supposedly feature "building blocks designed to help professionals and amateurs rapidly create prototypes of new products."

The last smartwatch from Sony was launched during IFA 2014m dubbed Sony Smartwatch 3, alongside the SmartBand Talk fitness tracker, which features an always-on curved 1.4-inch e-paper display.

The screen on the SmartBand Talk offers users Lifelog activity, notifications and the time at a glance. It also comes with a built-in microphone and speaker for combined with a short call function. This feature allows users to forward calls from a paired smartphone to the SmartBand Talk, which with its built-in microphone and speaker lets users talk into it and hear the caller, along with HD Voice support.