New Survey from TE Connectivity Uncovers America's Desire for Wearables

BERWYN, Pa., May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL), a world leader in connectivity, uncovered that 76 percent of Americans would purchase a wearable device in the next six to 12 months.

"The wearables market continues to evolve and grow as innovative ways to embed sensors are producing new products at a rapid pace," said Rob Shaddock, executive vice president and chief technology officer, TE Connectivity. "TE Connectivity is working with our customers to engineer state-of-the-art wearables solutions based on new form factors and advanced materials."

As the wearables market continues to mature, there are a number of key features, both form and function, that users are expecting in the new devices, and driving their purchasing decisions.

The survey asked respondents which wearable functionality would increase the likelihood of purchasing a wearable or smart device in the next year. Increased or longer battery life was the most important feature for 49 percent of survey respondents. Other features included interoperability (43 percent), decreased or light weight (36 percent), learned behavior (30 percent), biometric capabilities (28 percent), and enhanced or jewelry-like design (23 percent). Women (32 percent) are more likely to want biometric capabilities compared to men (24 percent).

"As the wearables market grows, we expect battery life and wireless charging to be a pain point," said James O'Toole, President, Communications Solutions segment at TE Connectivity. "That is why TE is investing and developing technology solutions to explore new methods of device charging without being constrained by traditional plugs and connectors. Our survey results demonstrate that wearables are only effective if they can meet the needs of users without interruption. Wearables should complement your everyday life and remain powered to do so."

ABOUT THE SURVEY

TE's Engineering Sentiment survey was conducted by ORC International's CARAVAN® Omnibus services from January 22 to 25, 2015. The study was conducted using two probability samples: randomly selected landline telephone numbers and randomly selected mobile (cell) telephone numbers. The combined sample consists of 1,010 adults (18 years old and older) living in the continental United States. Of the 1,010 interviews, 509 were from the landline sample and 501 from the cell phone sample.

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY

TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL) is a $14 billion global technology leader. Our connectivity and sensor solutions are essential in today's increasingly connected world. We collaborate with engineers to transform their concepts into creations – redefining what's possible using intelligent, efficient and high-performing TE products and solutions proven in harsh environments. Our 80,000 people, including 7,500 design engineers, partner with customers in over 150 countries across a wide range of industries. We believe EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS – www.TE.com.   

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SOURCE TE Connectivity