We've been wondering when conventional watchmakers would jump into the smartwatch game. Timex, a company that's no stranger to advanced wrist-mounted functionality, appears to be the first. They've adapted some of the technology first seen in the Qualcomm Toq developer device into the IronMan One GPS+. This watch combines the features of GPS watches that have been popular with runners and bikers for years with typical "smartwatch" functions like email alerts and an MP3 player.

The impressive Mirasol display (which specializes in sunlight visibility) and a Snapdragon processor are testaments to the device's Qualcomm guts, as is an AT&T data connection, which Timex claims is the first one in a smartwatch. Buyers in the US and Canada will get one year of wireless connection for free. That enables non-tethered access to email, SMS, and safety alerts (including messages for bear attacks!), presumably linked to your cell phone number. The watch also has 4GB of local storage for music, streamed to headphones or a speaker via Bluetooth. Timex claims a battery life of three days in its standard mode, but only 8 hours with active GPS tracking and mobile data.


Plz come quik, bear ate my leg when I stopd to select this mssage

But tech-heads really aren't the market here - Timex is more interested in appealing to runners, who will appreciate the water-resistant build, local GPS, and the capability for time and distance tracking. The IronMan One GPS+ will also connect to popular Bluetooth heart rate monitors (it doesn't have one built-in). The big, chunky design is more like a Casio G-Shock than a traditional watch. The face is roughly 50mm (2 inches) square, with a rectangular 1.5-inch screen that makes for a huge bezel. Four easily-accessible control buttons give you access to basic functions without having to use the touchscreen. The watch's data can be updated to services like Runkeeper, but it doesn't appear to support additional local apps.

If you're interested in the IronMan One GPS+, it will cost a whopping $399 (about twice the price of a basic GPS runner's watch). The watch is available for pre-order now in black and gray, and a bundle with a Bluetooth heart monitor is $450. The IronMan One GPS+ will be sold in retailers "this fall," including AT&T stores.

Source: Timex

MIDDLEBURY, Conn., Aug. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Timex, the iconic leader in outdoor and sports performance timepieces and the first authentic watch brand to enter the smartwatch space, has reached yet another milestone with the introduction of the TIMEX® IRONMAN® ONE GPS+, offering consumers stand-alone wireless connectivity without a phone.



  • Stand-alone wireless connectivity without a phone
  • Email-based messaging capabilities




