STOCKHOLM -- In the new Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) ConsumerLab report, "Wearable technology and the internet of things", six in 10 smartphone users state that wearables have uses beyond health and wellness. Devices related to personal safety and security, such as panic buttons and personal locators, attract most interest:

Top five most-wanted wearables across five markets surveyed (% interested & willing to buy):

1. Panic/SOS button (32%)
2. Smartwatch (28%)
3. Wearable Location Tracker (27%)
4. Identity Authenticator (25%)
5. Wearable Water Purifier (24%)

The report captures the opinions of 5,000 smartphone users (of which 2,500 are wearable users) in Brazil, China, South Korea, the UK and the US, representing the views of 280 million smartphone users globally. In addition to the top five most-wanted wearables, it shows consumers predict a booming wearables market beyond 2020, as well as that wearables might replace smartphones and will help consumers interact with physical things and objects in the internet of things (IoT) era:

A booming wearables market beyond 2020
Ownership of wearables among smartphone users in the surveyed markets has doubled in the past year. However, consumers predict it will take at least another year for the current generation of wearables to go mainstream.

A more diverse set of wearables, such as personal safety devices and smart garments, will go mainstream beyond 2020 - but when they do, a booming market can be expected. One in three smartphone users believe they will use at least five connected wearables beyond 2020.

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)