Apple Watch sales will expand to The Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand on July 17
The Apple Watch will arrive in at least three new countries next month, Apple revealed on Friday, as consumers in The Netherlands, Sweden and Thailand will be able to purchase the company's newest gadget beginning on July 17.
Apple made the reveal quietly via updates to its official Dutch, Swedish, and Thai websites. The 38-millimeter Apple Watch Sport will start at ?419 ($468) in The Netherlands, 3,995kr ($481) in Sweden, and ฿13,500 ($399) in Thailand.
The announcements came on the same day that Apple kicked off its second wave of Watch launches, bringing the wearable to Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan.
Industry estimates place Apple Watch unit sales at around 2.79 million since the device's launch, though the company has yet to confirm any figures. Fewer than one out of every five buyers are believed to have purchased extra bands, though that number doesn't take into account sales that may have occurred after the initial Watch order.
Still, demand for the Watch is generally categorized as "healthy," and Apple chief Tim Cook recently said that developer interest is higher for the Watch than it was for the iPhone or iPad at similar points in their lifecycles. Apple has already revealed plans for watchOS 2, which will include a new nightstand mode among other enhancements.
Apple made the reveal quietly via updates to its official Dutch, Swedish, and Thai websites. The 38-millimeter Apple Watch Sport will start at ?419 ($468) in The Netherlands, 3,995kr ($481) in Sweden, and ฿13,500 ($399) in Thailand.
The announcements came on the same day that Apple kicked off its second wave of Watch launches, bringing the wearable to Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan.
Industry estimates place Apple Watch unit sales at around 2.79 million since the device's launch, though the company has yet to confirm any figures. Fewer than one out of every five buyers are believed to have purchased extra bands, though that number doesn't take into account sales that may have occurred after the initial Watch order.
Still, demand for the Watch is generally categorized as "healthy," and Apple chief Tim Cook recently said that developer interest is higher for the Watch than it was for the iPhone or iPad at similar points in their lifecycles. Apple has already revealed plans for watchOS 2, which will include a new nightstand mode among other enhancements.
Comments
Currency fluctuations? Tariffs? Protectionism?
But the euro has come very close to the value of the dollar since last year.
Don't forget to subtract VAT, too. That's typically 15-20% in Europe, and it's included in the price.
It's already expensive, why is it higher in other countries?
Yeah.. these price aren't good for adoption rate.
Actually, just three(-ish) reasons:
1) currency fluctuation buffer. Apple deals in U.S. Dollars.
2) VAT. Always shown already figured into the price.
3) slightly higher cost of doing business. Mandatory two-year warranty, mandatory health benefits for employees, sick leave, maternity leave, longer periods for contract cancellation. Wages varying by country.
That's true. Good point. (or 21-23% VAT in places like the UK and Greece)
Well, valid AppleCare and warranty for starters... No we won't sign on to the Trans Pacific Partnership while there's no Apple Store in town - and line up behind Adelaide and Darwin for Apple trinkets. Cupertino, step in here.
VATs are protectionism. Just visit the U.S. and buy some watches instead.
That's true. Good point. (or 21-23% VAT in places like the UK and Greece)
UK standard VAT is currently 20%.
VATs are protectionism. Just visit the U.S. and buy some watches instead.
Protectionism? Howso?
You've written some clueless stuff on here in the (relatively short) time I've been around, and some stuff that is just absolutely wrong in the light of what we explicitly know, but this is comedy gold.
You've apparently heard some Big Words and just throw them out there whenever a subject comes up that seems vaguely related, without having an idea as to what's going on.
Tariffs are protectionism. Special taxes on specific imported goods are protectionism. State subsidies and tax breaks for local industries are protectionism. Almost every country practices these to some degree, including the U.S.
VAT applies to anything and everything sold within a country, completely regardless of where it comes from. Swiss watches are subject to the same VAT when sold here in Germany as German watches and Apple Watches.
It's literally the same thing as Sales Tax, which a lot of states in the U.S. levy as well.