Apple Applies For 'iWatch' Trademark In Japan

Apple Applies For 'iWatch' Trademark In Japan

That a wearable Apple smart device will eventually arrive in some form is now pretty much an inevitability - even if exactly what that device will be is still uncertain.

CEO Tim Cook has spoken of the "profound" opportunity in wearable tech, even if he did it while explicitly praising another company's own efforts in that area.

"I would say that the ones that are doing more than one thing, there's nothing great out there that I've seen. Nothing that's going to convince a kid that's never worn glasses or a band or a watch or whatever to wear one," Cook said at D11.

It is thought that up to 100 product designers are working on a wearable device, that will run iOS and possibly integrate Siri into its functionality.

And as unlikely as it seems that Apple would give that product the clunky name 'iWatch', it's at least possible they'll decide to go in that direction.

Adding some weight to those rumours, is the fact that Apple has just applied for a trademark on that term - in Japan.

Bloomberg says that Apple has applied for the term as applies to a handheld computer or watch at the Japan Patent Office.

Of course just applying for the term means little - it's more likely that Apple just wants to block competitors using the name.

Meanwhile other companies are starting to ramp up their own wearable tech efforts, with Sony launching its SmartWatch 2 last week and Samsung and Google said to be among those developing their own products.

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