Despite cries to the contrary, wearables will not lead to the demise of the smartphone. In fact, this technology will only make the smartphone more central to our lives.

A direct connection

The smartphone is cellular and Wi-Fi enabled already. It is built to connect, upload and download data.

Many wearables — for reasons ranging from energy consumption to data plan costs — are not directly connected to the internet and must be tethered to a smartphone. A Pebble smart watch is not very smart until it is connected to your phone’s data through Bluetooth, making the smartphone a requirement.

In a connected environment, such as a retail store, your phone is the most universal trigger to identify who and where you are, while also initiating a conversation. The phone can relay your specific location in an aisle or receive notifications about related items or deals more personally and immediately…