Despite the fact that it's getting more and more difficult to find someone who doesn't carry a smartphone with them at all times, the notion of the Dick Tracy style watch phone isn't dead yet. In the past few years, we've seen examples from companies such as LG, Samsung, Hyundai and Orange, just to name a few. This week at CES, watchmaker Burg officially added its Neon line of watch phones to that list by announcing two models that will be coming to the U.S. market.
The basic model (called the Burg 9 going by the rather confusing information on the company's website) has a simple analogue clock face, with features that include the ability to make and receive hands-free calls, speed dial, voice count, and key lock and unlock. It also has GPS, which could come in handy if a child wearing the watch were to get lost.
Prices for this model start at US$99.
The other watch (listed on the site as the the Burg 11) is considerably more about the bells and whistles. Some of its features include:
- Making and receiving calls and texts
- MP3/MP4 player
- Camera with 3x zoom
- Photo/video/audio recording and playback
- Internet browsing
- File manager/organizer
- Bluetooth capability
- SMS and MMS capability
- Phone book of up to 500 numbers
- Call history
- 2GB memory
- Vibrate function
It's priced starting at $299.
Both watches are intended not so much to replace smartphones, as supplement them. By inserting your SIM card in either model, for instance, you could make and receive calls while out on the golf course, without having to bring your regular phone along in your pocket.
We're told that Burg also has a sportier, waterproof model in the works.