Smart watch manufacturer Pebble is starting production on its new Pebble Time Steel watch, with plans to send the first shipments of the product to its original Kickstarter backers by the end of July. The stainless steel wearable, an up-market version of the company’s Pebble Time smart watch, goes beyond timekeeping to offer reminders, email, messaging and texting, along with thousands of apps and e-paper watch faces.
According to Pebble, the Pebble Time Steel will make its way to backers as soon as Pebble’s distribution centers, located in several countries around the world, receive them from the factory and process them. In addition to the watch’s standard leather band, Pebble is throwing in a steel band as a bonus. Once the device goes to market, Pebble will sell the accessory as a separate item. That said, owing to low inventory with the supplier, the metal bands could run out before all of the initial backers can receive them. Backers who don’t get the bands with the first round of shipments will receive them at a later date.
An early Pebble Time production unit. Photo source: Pebble Time Kickstarter
Pebble is also sending emails to the initial backers asking them to review the finish of the device they have selected, confirm their shipping address, choose a shipping speed and resolve any balances toward Pebble they may owe. Once they finalize this information, they can track the status of the product as it makes its way through the manufacturing, processing and delivery cycle through a dedicated portal.
Watch straps on the Pebble Time are easy to change. Photo source: Pebble Time Kickstarter
Supporters of the smart watch who didn’t make it to the front of the line with their financial support can expect to receive notice of their own shipments by the end of August.
For more information, see the full article here.