The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) last month granted
Huawei a
patent for a smartwatch that can store a pair of Bluetooth
earbuds inside it.
The earbuds can, theoretically, be stored in a hinged
capsule, or "glued" on the back with
magnets.
While no commercial devices have been released yet, this is potentially a
good innovation from Huawei (provided the overall formfactor is not too large). Anyone who has ever tried to
juggle a smartwatch or phone with a pair of corded or cordless headphones while navigating a crowded subway on the commute to or from work will know what a pain it can be.
And
Huawei could do with some badly-needed innovation and differentiation. Its
global smartwatch marketshare today stands at a puny 4% and few consumers worldwide are even aware Huawei sells such products.