An interesting-looking new device has just received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), indicating that it has been approved for sale in the US, and sparking suggestions that it might be the long-awaited sports watch. However, closer investigation reveals that, despite apparent similarities to the , the new wearable is in fact a GPS dog collar rather than a watch. Any device that can broadcast radio signals, including watches with Bluetooth connectivity, must undergo independent testing to ensure it doesn't cause harmful interference before it can be imported or marketed in the US.
The FCC publishes a list of devices that have recently received the green light, which sometimes gives watch fans an early peek at the details of upcoming releases. The documentation is usually heavily redacted, but it's often possible to read between the lines and work out what might be landing on our wrists soon. Reddit user was therefore excited to spot details of a new device on the FCC website, which sounded very much like a sports watch.
The device, model number A04674, has Bluetooth, ANT, and (most interestingly) LTE connectivity, which led some excited members of the Garmin subreddit to wonder whether this might be a new version of the company's flagship wearable. The inclusion of LTE is particularly intriguing, suggesting that this device would be offer mobile data connectivity independently of your phone. So far only two Garmin watches offer this: the Garmin Forerun.
