Shenzhen-based Huawei is undertaking three health research programmes on hypertension management, body temperature and coronary heart disease, the company announced at an online event on Saturday.
It did not say when features based on that research will be integrated with its line of wearable devices – including smartwatches, smart bands and eyewear – but aims to build a “strong barrier” to entry for competitors in the industry, according to a Huawei statement.
“The whole industry is expecting [wearable] products which can really help consumers better manage their health [concerns], especially chronic diseases that both young and old people are likely to get,” said Jason Low, an analyst at tech research firm Canalys. “But there is still a long way to go because this requires a lot of R&D investment, as well as cooperation between smart hardware and technology companies.”
The latest move by Huawei – the world’s No 3 wearables vendor in the third quarter last year, according to research firm IDC – shows the company continuing to double down on other growth areas amid its difficulties with rigid US trade restrictions, which have affected the supply of hardware and software components for its core smartphone and networking equipment businesses.
“We invest US$20 billion into research and development every year, but income is only 40 per cent of the input, as 60 per cent [of investment] is burnt like candles in the dark,” Ren said in a recent speech. “But we are not complaining. We can bring light to others just like leading European, American, Japanese and Russian businesses did.”
Ren said it was important for Huawei to simplify its product lines and focus on generating profit to survive US trade restrictions.
source – www.scmp.com
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