Samsung Makes Grab for Your Wrist with Galaxy Gear

Samsung isn't waiting to see what Apple has in store for wearable technology. The electronics maker plans to introduce its own smartwatch called Galaxy Gear on September 4, just days ahead of Apple's still unannounced iPhone media event.

Samsung's Galaxy Gear SmartwatchThe Galaxy Gear launch was confirmed by Samsung Mobile executive vice president Lee Young Hee, according to the Korea Times. The smartwatch is being called a concept device by the company, so Samsung has a fairly easy path open for backtracking should the Galaxy Gear fail to gain traction with consumers.

News of the watch isn't a surprise. Samsung confirmed back in March that it was working on a smart watch, although at the time the company didn't offer a time frame for when to expect it's official launch.

"The Gear won't have a flexible display. The new device will enhance and enrich the current smart mobile experience in many ways. It will lead a new trend in smart mobile communications. We are confident that the Gear will add meaningful momentum to the mobile industry," Samsung's Lee said.

Samsung isn't offering up any other details about the watch yet, so we'll have to wait until its unveiling in Berlin on September 4. What we're expecting, however, is that it will be running some flavor of Android OS and will have a way to wirelessly communicate with other devices.

With rumors that Apple is working on its own smartwatch, dubbed iWatch by analysts, it's no surprise that Samsung is getting in on the game. Apple hasn't confirmed that it is, in fact, building an iWatch product, or offered any hints as to when it may ship. By calling the Galaxy Gear a concept device, it looks like Samsung is rushing its smartwatch out the door to beat Apple to market, and presumably grab up early mindshare, too.