Australians Will Own Wearable Tech in 2014 as 88% Already Have Smartphones

Australia is keeping up with technology trends as a new report finds that one in five Australians will own wearable technology in 2014. The same study also found Apple as the top player in the growing Aussie smart phone market.

Wearable technology is seen as the next phase in personal gadgets with Google, Apple, Samsung and Microsoft hoping to release the next-generation product that will combine functionality and fashion that will change people's lives.

Google Glass, Google's breakthrough wearable tech made to look like a modern version of eyewear, has been released to a select group of testers in the early months of 2013. Google Inc has not yet announced a market launch of its high-technology eyewear that contains a camera and access to apps made for Google Glass.

Samsung has jumped on the wearable tech bandwagon with the release of its Galaxy Gear smart watch in Sept.2013. Apple Inc was widely rumoured to release the iWatch as its entry to the wearable tech industry.

Previous records have shown that Australia has a high early adoption rate of new technology. A new study has found that 10 per cent of Australians will own wearable tech by Feb 2014. The study also suggests the rate to increase to 22 per cent by Sept 2014.

The key findings were part of the Australian Mobile Phone Lifestyle Index (AMPLI) report, now on its ninth year, which was released on Oct 29 in Sydney.

The same report revealed that 56 per cent of Aussies have their own tablet which is higher than 2012's figure at 38 per cent. The AMPLI report also revealed that 88 per cent of Australians have smart phones.

Marketing firm IPSOS published a different study in July which found smart phone penetration in Australia was at 64.6 per cent. The figure was higher than most developed countries like France, Germany, UK and the U.S.

Australians were found eager to buy the latest gadgets despite tech products being priced higher compared to other countries. This was also confirmed by a research study and a report from a federal parliamentary inquiry.

In the same report, Apple remains at the top of the local mobile market with 45 per cent of Australians revealed they have an iPhone compared to 28 per cent who said they own a Samsung device. Only 9 per own a Nokia smart phone.