[Ghana] MTN & Garmin partner to launch range of wearable tech watches

Garmin has partnered with leading operator MTN to launch a range of wearable tech watches in Ghana as the market for wearables continues to grow in Africa.

With growth of 20.1% between 2016–2020 according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) the wearables sector is expanding. “Fitness trackers continue to make up much of the market’s volume and are proving popular for the value for money they offer,” says Nakul Dogra, Senior Research Analyst at IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) market grew 66.0% year on year in Q2 2016 to total approximately 482,000 units for the quarter accroding to IDC, with shipments of basic wearables (i.e., devices that do not support third-party applications) increased 79.8% year on year in Q2 2016, while shipments of smart wearables (i.e. devices that do support third-party applications) increased 40.5% over the same period.

A splurge by early adopters helped drive the initial growth for smart wearables, but IDC expects the next wave of adoption for these devices to come from value-seeking consumers or those looking to upgrade from basic wearables. “Vendors are currently undertaking efforts to improve the form factor of these devices and make them more appealing to the mass market,” says Dogra. “But there is still considerable ground to be made up in convincing more price-conscious consumers that these products have a valuable role to play in everyday life beyond fitness.”

Garmin’s range of wearable tech watches are health and fitness watches that monitor and record daily activities to motivate users towards a healthier lifestyle, some are also smart devices that pair with your smart phone to display personal data, text messages and emails on your device.

“Our Garmin watches are supported by various mobile devices operating on Android, iOS or Microsoft platforms giving all customers the chance to get fit and healthy while staying connected.” Said the Business Development Manager for Garmin, Mike Clarke.

The products are vivoFit 3, vivoMove Classic, vivoSmart HR, vivoActive HR, Fenix 3 HR and Garmin Index smart wearable technology watches are smart devices that pair with the client’s phone to display personal data, text messages and emails on the device.

These devices monitor and record daily activities and motivate its user or customer towards a healthier lifestyle. Through Garmin’s mobile app, Garmin Connect members are able to review, relieve and share their activities and to track steps, goals, sleep, weight and calories burned.

Garmin Connect Mobile is an application designed to help you focus more clearly on your fitness and healthy living goals. All the data you rely on is easy to find and access on the app, you can also compare times or compete with friends on weekly step or running challenges. By using the app’s Bluetooth® connectivity links (with a compatible smartphone) you can receive current weather conditions, forecasts, voice call/text message notifications, and more – right on your Garmin fitness device.

“There is still plenty of room for the MEA wearables market to grow as penetration remains on the low side,” says Dogra. “The market has almost reached a stage where the further miniaturization of devices will become a major challenge, so the onus lies on vendors to develop new applications, increase the use of historical data to simplify the user experience, and enable interaction between multiple gadgets in order to push the market’s growth potential further.”

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