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Adelaide company launches smartwatch for seniors

Adelaide software company MGM Wireless is launching an all-in-one smartphone, watch and GPS device to help keep elderly users safe and connected to family.

Jun 24, 2020, updated Jun 24, 2020

The 4G watch follows the company’s SPACETALK smartwatch for children aged 5-12, which it launched in 2017 to success in the Australian, New Zealand and UK markets.

The SPACETALK Life watch for seniors is a standalone mobile phone and features an SOS button, GPS, voice calls, SMS, step counter, Bluetooth pairing to hearing devices and car audio as well as a medication reminder system. It even tells the time.

In what MGM Wireless says is a world first, the watch has a “Safety Call Back” system to initiate calls when a senior is unable to answer due to a fall or other mishap and a “Location by Request” function, which provides the user’s location while protecting their privacy.

Like the children’s version, the watch is controlled by the Company’s AllMyTribe App, which attracts a monthly subscription fee and allows access to family approved members.

The publicly-listed company announced the launch to the Australian Securities Exchange this morning.

MGM Wireless CEO Mark Fortunatow said SPACETALK Life was a significant advancement and opportunity for the company and its shareholders.

He said the seniors watch was simpler to use than a smartphone and was about safety and staying connected.

“It provides access to a large, new and rapidly growing market which is also complementary to our phenomenally successful SPACETALK children’s smartwatch business.”

“It’s far more stylish than an SOS neck pendant, which many seniors find embarrassing to wear. We invested heavily in design and style because, along with the many other useful features and functions, it creates a powerful point of difference.”

SPACETALK Life retails for A$549 and will initially be sold on the company’s e-commerce store with bricks and mortar distribution planned to commence from October.

The AllMyTribe App monthly subscription fee is $9.99 per SPACETALK device.

MGM Wireless says it is receiving strong interest from existing distribution partners which include JB Hi-Fi, Sky Mobile (UK), Spark (NZ), Officeworks, The Good Guys, Harvey Norman (NZ), Kogan, Dixons Carphone’s Currys PCWorld (UK) with launch discussions in progress.

Additional distribution channels through aged care service providers and other related channels are also planned.

MGM Wireless was founded in Adelaide in 2001 and began developing applications for SMS communication in schools in 2002. It went on to create the world’s first SMS based Automated Student Absence Notification Solution and is now recognised as a global leader and pioneer in socially responsible and technology-enabled school communication.

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Its school communication solutions are now used by more than 1200 schools and 1.7 million parents.

The company has sold more than 50,000 of its SPACETALK children’s watches and its app is currently generating more than $1.5 million a year.

In a business update to the ASX yesterday, it said although SPACETALK sales had been subdued amid the COVID-19 pandemic, revenue had surpassed $10 million for the 11 months to the end of May.

It reported a strong balance sheet with $3.7 million in cash and no debt at May 31.

MGM Wireless shares were up 15 per cent this morning to $0.15 in the first hour of trade following the announcement.

The company was ranked No.72 in InDaily’s 2019 South Australian Business Index of the state’s top 100 companies. 

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