Casio has developed a next-generation watch with Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology for its G-SHOCK brand of shock-resistant watches.
Designed in accordance with new Bluetooth® Core Specification Version 4.0 standards, Bluetooth® Low Energy is a new technology that enables wireless communications with very low power consumption.
Casio participated in determining the standards for Bluetooth® Low Energy as a member of the Bluetooth® Special Interest Group (SIG), an association of companies that decides on Bluetooth® standards and authorizes certification.
Casio’s new G-SHOCK is the first in a line of new watches that will use Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology, with a function that can adjust time automatically all over the world. Casio is positioning the new next-generation wristwatches as smart watches.
The watch supports communication with Bluetooth® Low Energy smart phones that will hit the market in 2011, to enable automatic synchronization with smart phone time. Smart phones automatically acquire the local time when moving between countries and regions in different time zones, which means that the synchronized watch will adjust to the time in its present location automatically.
In addition, integration of Bluetooth® Low Energy support opens the doors to completely new ways of using watches as new applications are developed for smart phones; for instance, communication between watches through smart phones. The expectation is that these new ―smart watches will be able to connect to networks of various kinds of devices that support the Bluetooth® Low Energy standard.
Casio has designed the watch to offer a battery life of approximately two years from a single button-cell battery. Together with Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology, this ensures an eminently practical watch without the bother of recharging, just like what is expected of a wristwatch.
Casio G-SHOCK with Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology
Main features
- Wireless communication is powered by the button-cell battery used in small devices and watches
- Battery life with the communication functions is the same as previously released watches
- The construction delivers outstanding shock-resistance and 20 Bar water-resistance
Main functions
- Time information can be transmitted from a smart phone to the watch to adjust the time
- The watch includes an alert signal to notify of incoming calls and e-mail and SMS messages sent to the user’s smart phone
- A smart phone’s ring alerts and vibration can be stopped by tapping the watch
- Alarm and vibration functions of a smart phone can be activated using a watch button.
Since the release of the original G-SHOCK watch in 1983, the brand has continued to evolve, with advanced functions, construction and design all based on outstanding shock-resistance. That’s why Casio considered it a natural choice to develop its first watch compatible with the latest Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology under its G-SHOCK brand. The new G-SHOCK watch will be the first of many watches with Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology offered under Casio’s various product brands.
Casio will exhibit the new G-SHOCK watch with Bluetooth® Low Energy Wireless Technology at the Casio Booth at Baselworld 2011. Casio will feature the watch together with a prototype Bluetooth® Low Energy smart phone, in cooperation with NEC Casio Mobile Communications.
Technical details
Case: Shock-resistant
Water Resistance: 20 Bar
Size of Case: 53.2 × 50.0 × 18.3 mm
Total Weight: Approx. 65 g
Communication Specifications
Data Transfer Rate: 1 Mbps
Signal Strength: 0 dBm (1mW)
Signal Range: 2–5 m (may differ depending on surrounding conditions)
Encryption Method: 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Communication Functions
Time Correction: The watch can be synchronized with time information transmitted from a smart phone
Incoming Call, E-mail and SMS Alert: The watch alerts users of incoming calls and e-mail and SMS messages sent to a smart phone
Finder Function: Alarm and vibration functions of a smart phone can be activated using a watch button
Watch Functions
Alarm: 5 independent daily alarms; hourly time signal; vibration function
Stopwatch: 1/100-second; measuring capacity: 23:59’59.99‖; split time
Countdown Timer: Measuring unit: 1 second; input range: 1 minute to 24 hours
World Time: 100 cities (35 time zones, daylight saving on/off) and Coordinated Universal Time
Light: LED backlight (auto light switch and afterglow, Super Illuminator)
Full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format; sleep mode
Power source
CR2032 Battery
Battery Life: Approx. 2 years (assuming the communication function is used for 12 hours per day)
