A Windows 10-powered smartwatch is on the way, but it's probably not for you

Windows 10 is almost everywhere: it’s on PCs, Phones, Xboxes, HoloLenses, Surface Hubs, Raspberry Pis, and more. While Microsoft was expected to bring Windows 10 to your wrist with the Microsoft Band 3, it isn’t clear whether we’ll ever see that happen. In the meantime, however, there’s a new Windows 10-powered smartwatch coming out. Don’t get too excited yet — because it’s probably not for you.

German OEM TrekStor is working on a new smartwatch that’s powered by Windows 10 IoT Core. The smartwatch will be able to run Universal Windows Apps and utilize other Microsoft services such as Microsoft Cognitive Services and Azure.

Not a lot of information about the smartwatch is available yet — but Microsoft shared some minor details on a blog post today. The smartwatch will have a 1.54-inch display, protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It’ll also pack Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, along with “plenty” of storage space. The wearable will also sport the battery life and processing power to “perform its line-of-business functions.”

The catch? It’s not for consumers. TrekStor is building the smartwatch for commercial use, and it’s supposed to be used in the following scenarios:

• Inventory management in retail
• Building automation for guest services in hospitality
• Industrial automation in manufacturing
• Patient care in healthcare
• And several cross-industry scenarios like asset management, fleet management, and others.

TrekStor’s Windows 10-powered smartwatch will certainly be very interesting, even though consumers won’t be able to buy it. This is the first time we’re getting to see Windows 10 powering a smartwatch, so it’s kind of a big deal. Obviously, the regular Universal Windows Apps won’t work nicely on the 1.54-inch smartwatch and TrekStor will probably build its own UWP apps that are optimized to be used in such a small display.