(Telecompaper) ZTE plans to launch a smartwatch in the second quarter of next year, according to Lu Qianhao, head of the company's handset marketing strategy. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Lu said that ZTE's smartwatch will offer technological features that are similar to existing products such as the Galaxy Gear, but will sell for lower prices as it tries to appeal to China's cost-conscious consumers. "We are focusing on the mainstream market," he said. The company plans to unveil the smartwatch in the first quarter of next year and start selling it in the second quarter, said Lu. ZTE will first sell its smartwatch only in China, but it wants to gradually enter the US and European markets later. The device will only be compatible with ZTE's own smartphones, but the company may consider releasing other smartwatches in the future that will work with all Android smartphones from any brands, Lu said. He said that the company is also considering other possibilities in wearable computing, such as smart glasses and smartphone-connected shoes for healthcare purposes.