And ZTE is another manufacturer preparing to launch an Android Wear smartwatch

ZTE is readying the launch of its first Android Wear smartwatch, the company has revealed. The upcoming wearable will have LTE capabilities and will operate without the requirement of being paired to a smartphone.

In an interview yesterday, Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE USA, confirmed that the company already has a US carrier on board to help sell the watch and that it would be released later in 2017.

According to CNET, Mr Cheng said that a number of problems, such as poor battery life and lack of LTE, had previously stopped ZTE entering the market. Cheng said that now, “All the issues are behind us.”

ZTE is entering the smartwatch arena, along with Swarovski who also revealed smartwatch plans during CES, despite the market dropping by more than 50 percent year on year in Q3 2016.

ZTE isn’t completely in the dark when it comes to smartwatch production, however, having previously worked on watches for non-Android Wear platforms (see the ZTE W01 pictured at the top of the page).

ZTE didn’t disclose any further details about the upcoming product.