Mike Wuerthele
Citing new sources, another venue has jumped into the fray with new Apple Watch rumors, suggesting that LTE connectivity is coming in September to Apple's wearable line.
Citing "a source with knowledge of the matter," CNBC also claims that a new Apple Watch with LTE is coming in the fall, alongside the "iPhone 8." The LTE connectivity will allow users to not remain within range of an iPhone for nearly all functions and permit things like making phone calls straight from the watch, plus music streaming to the device over wireless.
The new source confirms earlier reports claiming that Intel would provide the modem for the next Apple Watch. Allegedly, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are already on board with plans to sell the device, with partnerships still being pursued in Europe.
Analysts for CNBC are predicting that a "souped up" Apple Watch could help it reclaim the top spot in the wearables market, and catch up to Fitbit and Xiaomi.
After initial reports circulated about a radical redesign, the next-generation Apple Watch isn't expected to look much different than the previous one, and should contain enhanced health tracking beyond the LTE radio.
The new LTE model is not expected to provide 3G communications and will only support LTE in "specific" countries and markets. The LTE addition may bring as many as 8 to 9 million new sales to the Apple Watch.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman isn't completely convinced that the LTE Apple Watch will ship in the fall — at the tail-end of his report he noted that the wearable could easily be launched or ship in 2018. Previous rumors from Bloomberg and other venues suggested that Apple would release a cellular connected wearable in 2016 during the last refresh — but that turned out to be not the case.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Oliver Haslam
William Gallagher
55 Comments
I chuckle when I read posts demanding that LTE access on the new watches be free and part of one’s carrier plan. Not going to happen people. You are going to PAY for your watch to work, plain and simple. Carriers will jump on this as another way to make money and rightly so. It’s just a matter of how much you will pay.
Because of power/battery limitations, I suspect that this will not be a cutting of the cord between the Apple Watch and iPhone. Rather, it will kick in when the paired iPhone is no longer connected. But otherwise the AW will continue to rely on the higher powered iPhone for many services.
But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones. Well, that and having Apple Music streaming.
I think this will be a nice enhancement -- but not a game changer where the Apple Watch replaces the iPhone.
The reality is that most people have their watch and their iPhone on their person at most times during the day. So a lot of people won't need or want LTE.
Unless Apple is thinking of drawing in Andorid and Microsoft users -- which would be brilliant -- I have to believe that the Watch will have some type of plan that is subsidiary and connected to the existing phone plan. For example, my new car offers something similar, a "wifi connectivity" plan for $10 per month added to my existing ATT contract.
"a "wifi connectivity" plan for $10 per month added to my existing ATT contract. " That's basically how they do it now. iPads can be LTE capable... but only for Cellular Data...not Cellular Voice. The same will be for Apple's LTE Watch, and Mobile carriers will simply tack on another $10.00 or so per month to the bill of someone's existing Voice Plan to use it.
I assume there will be some charge, but it should be minimal since the actual data usage will be low vs a tablet or phone (you aren't going to stream video to your watch). Something along the lines of $2 to $5/month. And it really needs to somehow work so you can be reached with the same phone number your phone uses. But this feature would allow you to do things like run, go to the beach, go to the pool, etc, without bringing your phone (or wallet), yet still be accessible (and be able to buy stuff with Apple Pay)