It is confirmed – even Microsoft will beat Apple in the race to get a smartwatch into the shops.

Microsoft is preparing to launch a smartwatch within the next few weeks that will passively track a user's heart rate and work across different mobile platforms. The wearable gadget's battery life will exceed two days of regular use, and will arrive in stores soon after being unveiled in an effort to capture the holiday season.

After nearly two years hype, Apple unveiled a smartwatch on September 9 that will combine health and fitness tracking with communications and will go on sale in early 2015. This means that Apple’s delay to getting its product to market is now costing it in terms of more competition. 

It is also a moot point if the iWatch will have any technology that is different from what is already out there.