Logitech to Acquire Jaybird, Expanding Into the Fast-Growing Wireless Audio Wearables Market

Logitech International, also the owner of Ultimate Ears, announced it will acquire Jaybird, the wireless and active lifestyle consumer electronics specialists. With this strategic acquisition, Logitech will leverage its worldwide distribution network to bring Jaybird range of premium Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, sport wearables and wireless software solutions to the global market.

The evidence about how important the Apple Watch is comes from many other recent announcements, including some made at the MWC 2015 in Barcelona. Security, IoT interoperability, wearables, computer vision, communications infrastructure, and ultra-low power connectivity were some of the trends at MWC 2015. It's not by chance that, all those things are effectively combined on the Apple Watch and Apple's current roadmap.

Conexant’s new I2S audio Codec and AudioSmart software offers noise cancellation and full-duplex acoustic echo cancellation for tablets, allowing better voice quality even in noisy environments. Conexant also introduced a Linux software solution for voice control and communication in smart home products and unveiled its new Smart Voice Pickup (SVP) technology for headsets, based on its proprietary SSP noise suppression algorithm.

Portable Bluetooth speakers are getting so small we could say they are bringing the category into the wearable segment of the market. A good example is NUU’s latest Riptide 2.7” cube speakers. Designed to be robust and waterproof, they still deliver impressive sound using a 3W neodymium driver combined with a passive bass radiator.

Between May and October this year, Futuresource Consulting interviewed more than 8,000 people about their intent to buy wearable technology and saw a significant increase in the intent to purchase. There was a 50% increase in intention to buy fitness trackers and a 125% increase in intention to buy smartwatches.

Harman International Industries has acquired Yurbuds, a manufacturer of fitness headphones. Yurbuds will join Harman’s lifestyle division, helping the company to gain foot on the fast-growing niche of sports headphones and wearables, and develop the next generation of headphones designed specifically for athletes.