Asus Zenwatch 2 with SIM card slot pitted against Samsung Gear S to be launched in 2015

Asus, which officially launched its first smartwtach-like wearable device called the Zenwatch, at the IFA 2014 in September, is reportedly gearing up to launch an advanced version of the smartwatch featuring voice-calling capability.

According to a Focus Taiwan report, Asus will release the advanced Zenwatch (tentatively called Zenwatch 2) next year, along with two other wristband-like health monitoring devices that are said to be capable of offering features such as heart-rate monitor, pedometer and blood glucose/sugar level monitors.

Among the new products, the advanced Zenwatch is likely to attract greater attention as it will offer voice-calling feature, independently of smartphones, without users having to confine themselves to a headset.

The Zenwatch 2 is also expected to work independently of smartphones, as indicated by Asus' CEO Jerry Shen, to Focus Taiwan.

Asus' Zenwatch 2 is also being touted in media circles as a worthy competitor to the Samsung Gear S that features a standalone SIM card slot for users to make voice-calls.

The Focus Taiwan report adds that the Zenwatch 2 and the two other wrtistband-like wearable devices will be launched in Q3 2015, but another report indicates a prototype of the Zenwatch 2 will be officially showcased at next year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015).

Key features of the current-gen Asus Zenwatch wearable:

• 1.63in AMOLED display having resolutions of 320 x 320 pixels
• 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
• Google Android Wear operating platform
• 512 MB RAM
• 4GB eMMc flash storage
• Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB connectivity supported
• Polymer 1.4Wh battery
• FoneHelper feature
• Built-in Welness Manager health-monitoring package
• "OK Google" voice-command supported

Asus' Zenwatch costs $188 (NT 5,990, £121).