Cellular support for Apple Watch finally arrives in New Zealand

After years of missing out, New Zealanders are finally able to take advantage of the cellular Apple Watch after the country's first carrier to offer eSIM support takes the service live.

To date, users in New Zealand were unable to use cellular-capable versions of Apple Watch due to Apple's implementation of wireless network functionality. Specifically, Apple relies on virtual eSIM modules rather than traditional physical SIM cards.

Until now, no carrier in the country supported eSIM cards, meaning Apple Watch owners had to remain tethered to iPhone or known Wi-Fi networks to ferry data and phone calls to the wearable.

Now, as The Herald reports, cellular Apple Watch hardware can be used in New Zealand as local carrier Spark launched support for eSIM alongside Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services. Spark launched the new eSIM support with the One Number Wearable Plan, which at the moment only supports the Apple Watch Series 5. According to Spark, more devices will be added in the future.

As such, GPS + Cellular Apple Watch Series 5 is available to purchase in New Zealand for 929 New Zealand dollars, though cellular access comes at a NZ$200 premium over the GPS-only variant.

Cellular data on Apple Watch allows users to make and receive calls, send messages, and stream music without a nearby iPhone. Cellular support also enables free international emergency calling.

The One Number Wearable plan runs $12.99 which gives the Apple Watch unlimited data, though it can be throttled once it goes past 40GB.

18 Comments

riverko 247 comments · 9 Years

About 5 years ago

I wonder why the adoption is overall so slow. Still waiting in CZ - is it lack of interest from carriers or from Apple?

caladanian 380 comments · 10 Years

Now just add international roaming for Apple Watch, please!

EsquireCats 1268 comments · 8 Years

riverko said:

I wonder why the adoption is overall so slow. Still waiting in CZ - is it lack of interest from carriers or from Apple?

Central-to-Eastern Europe seems to be a hard place for Apple in general, likely because they both have a small retail footprint in these countries, but also because they're slow into non-English markets. This is also reflected in the generally malnourished state of Apple Maps and other services in these regions (e.g. Apple Pay).

The result is that "Good enough", but very cheap Android devices being dominant. Apple is known, but comparatively very expensive (2-3x the cost.) The elephant in the room is also socioeconomic values. (The consumer value of advanced personal technology is not consistent from market to market.)

The result is that smart watches don't have much penetration as they tend to rely on premium handsets, and have a minimal service offering. In many of these countries Apple doesn't even market their Edition line, despite there being no technical reason not to.

Sure it would be great if Apple rolled everything out in unison, but I think they're right to focus their efforts to countries that are likely to return value.

One final note: It's often the carriers: Those good enough Android phones make the carriers plenty of $$$, Apple hardware doesn't.

Ringerrr 2 comments · 5 Years

Apple desperately needs to create their own global cellular network with unlimited data & call plans, free roaming, visual voicemail, & esim support consistently everywhere

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

Ringerrr said:

Apple desperately needs to create their own global cellular network with unlimited data & call plans, free roaming, visual voicemail, & esim support consistently everywhere

Completely agree!