CNBC has reported this morning Apple is set to launch a third-generation Apple Watch next month, which will include LTE networking, allowing phone calls without being tethered to an iPhone, “making it a standalone device.”
The unnamed source also told CNBC the next Apple Watch, most likely known as “Series 3”, will launch in September, expected to debut alongside three new iPhone models. The next Apple Watch will have an embedded SIM card, instead of a physical SIM like traditional smartphones.
Neil Shah, research director of devices and ecosystems at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC, “It will cater to the niche market of health and fitness users who don’t want to carry their iPhone when they go for a run. It will also be good for enterprise use cases.”
Just yesterday, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, said in a research note the next-gen Apple Watch would have LTE networking and debut with a similar design as its previous generation, corroborating a previous report from Bloomberg.
A cellular capable Apple Watch most likely will cost more versus Wi-Fi models, plus customers will probably need to subscribe to add-on data plans for their new smartwatch. But a cellular Apple Watch would mean you’ll never miss a phone call or text message, plus you’ll have Apple Pay as your mobile wallet. It will all come at a price, though.
Any guesses on how much Rogers, Telus and Bell will charge to add data for your Apple Watch to your cellular plan—an extra $10 to $15 per month, perhaps?
