Redmond could launch an updated version of Band

May 26, 2015 14:50 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft launched its smart wristband called “Band” last year, and according to a new report, the company could release an improved version of the device later this year.

Reportedly called Microsoft Band 2, the new wristband is already being tested by European subsidiaries of Microsoft, WinFuture claims via anonymous sources, which means that prototypes have already been developed by the company.

Technical specifications are not available at this point, but expect the new Band to be fairly better than the first model, so battery life should be improved, while the number of sensors could also be increased for additional functionality.

The second Band could also be waterproof, but for the moment, there's no indication that Microsoft is planning to add such a feature for the device. But given the fact that the first Band cannot be used while swimming, many considered this a deal-breaker, so there's no doubt that Microsoft had this in mind when designing the new device.

International availability

Microsoft Band was launch in late 2014 in the United States, so sales of the device were previously impacted by the limited availability.

At first, all units were sold quite fast and Microsoft had problems keeping up with demand, despite the fact that the device was only available in the United States.

But the fact that the second-generation Band is already being tested in Europe could be an indication that Microsoft is aiming to launch the device in more markets from the very beginning, thus boosting early sales all over the world.

Pricing could be the same as for the first-generation Band, so you might have to spend only a couple of hundred dollars to purchase the improved model.

Keep in mind that these are all rumors and nothing should be taken for granted for now. Band 2 is expected to arrive later this year, but no specifics are available for now.