TOKYO: Sony’s Smart Eyeglasses will hit the market when they go on sale in the US next month, only weeks after Google ended sales of its first-generation tech-connected eyewear.
Sony also will sell the Internet-connected glasses in the U.K., Japan and Germany for $840 roughly half the $1,500 Google charged before ending sales of its device Jan. 19. But Google Glass was never aimed directly at consumers and earned its largest following among application developers, which likely will form the most-interested market for the Sony “Developer Edition” device that goes on sale March 10.
“Sony will accelerate its efforts to promote the development of apps for Smart Eyeglass, as it eyes the commercialization of the product for both consumers and enterprise customers in 2016,” Sony said in a press release.
Wearables are a forward-looking investment for Sony as Apple begins its foray into the evolving market with its Apple Watch, which goes on sale in April. But the devices also pose a risk for the money-losing company: Sony is expected to see a net loss this financial year its sixth in seven years though the company this week promised a boom in profit by 2018 through a strategy focused on camera sensors, PlayStation video games and entertainment.
The company also reportedly is considering abandoning its Xperia mobile phone division, in part because it sells camera sensors to Apple for iPhones.
“Sony will accelerate its efforts to promote the development of apps for Smart Eyeglass, as it eyes the commercialization of the product for both consumers and enterprise customers in 2016,” Sony said in a press release.
