Hi-tech copycats hit global market

A MONTH before Apple’s smartwatch hit the market, China’s thriving copycat manufacturers were selling lookalikes, some openly advertised as Apple copies.

“Apple Smart Watch with Bluetooth Bracelet,” says one vendor on Alibaba Group’s popular Taobao e-commerce website.

Photos on the vendor’s page appear to be the real Apple Watch.

It says features on the Chinese version include text messaging and a music player. It starts at 288 yuan (R575)), or one-eighth the $349 (R4 300) price of the cheapest Apple Watch.

Alibaba, which listed on the New York Stock Exchange last year after a record initial public offering, has faced criticism in

“Anything in the price range of Sf500 (R6 139) to Sf1 000 is really in danger,” Mock said. “I do expect an Ice Age coming toward us.”

Switzerland produces more than half of the world’s watches in value even though it only makes a fraction of the timepieces in quantity, according to Rene Weber, an analyst at Bank Vontobel. Apple probably the past for hosting the sale of counterfeit goods. It says it has been taking steps to reduce the problem.

The flood of “me too” smartwatches reflects China’s mix of skilled electronics manufacturers and a growing consumer market for bargain-price style.

Most of the world’s personal computers and cellphones are assembled in China. But this country’s own companies are only starting to develop design skills and the ability to create breakthrough products.

That has led to the rise of an industry known as “shanzhai”, or “mountain forts” – hundreds of small, anonymous manufacturers that quickly copy the design or features of popular foreign cellphones or other products at a fraction of the price. – Sapa-AP aims to achieve a similar position, according to Mock, who works at Creaholic, a consultancy he formed in 1986.

“We do have the technology, and the Swiss watch industry hasn’t lost the competition,” Mock said. “Apple won’t die if the smartwatch isn’t a success. But in the next two to three years, a part of the Swiss watch market will suffer.” – Bloomberg