Apple Watch with built-in cellular data unlikely to arrive this year - report
Though Apple apparently wants to place a cellular radio in a future Apple Watch model, technical limitations may prevent the capability from appearing in this year's expected update, a new report claims.
Citing talks with mobile carriers in the U.S. and Europe, Bloomberg reported on Thursday that executives from Apple conceded that a new Apple Watch with cellular data "may not be ready for release this year." Officials from the company reportedly said that the earliest timeframe for the launch of such a product would be December.
As such, it's believed that the feature could be delayed to a future model, perhaps arriving in 2017. The main culprit apparently keeping cellular data from the Apple Watch: battery life.
To combat the issue, Apple is alleged to be "studying low-power cellular data chips for future smartwatch generations," the report said.
The details reaffirm claims made earlier this month by well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that Apple plans to launch a second-generation Apple Watch later this year with GPS and barometer. Kuo said he expects LTE support to arrive in a 2017 revision of the Apple Watch.
Dedicated GPS would help make the Apple Watch a more standalone device, negating the need for a tethered iPhone for accurate location data.
Combined with the limited onboard storage of the Apple Watch, the addition of GPS could allow runners, cyclists and other fitness enthusiasts to have more accurate information, such as pace and distance, without the need to carry an iPhone during a workout.
Apple is expected to hold a media event in a matter of weeks, on Sept. 7, to unveil its next-generation "iPhone 7." It's likely that the company could also unveil a second-generation Apple Watch at the same event.
Citing talks with mobile carriers in the U.S. and Europe, Bloomberg reported on Thursday that executives from Apple conceded that a new Apple Watch with cellular data "may not be ready for release this year." Officials from the company reportedly said that the earliest timeframe for the launch of such a product would be December.
As such, it's believed that the feature could be delayed to a future model, perhaps arriving in 2017. The main culprit apparently keeping cellular data from the Apple Watch: battery life.
To combat the issue, Apple is alleged to be "studying low-power cellular data chips for future smartwatch generations," the report said.
The details reaffirm claims made earlier this month by well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that Apple plans to launch a second-generation Apple Watch later this year with GPS and barometer. Kuo said he expects LTE support to arrive in a 2017 revision of the Apple Watch.
Dedicated GPS would help make the Apple Watch a more standalone device, negating the need for a tethered iPhone for accurate location data.
Combined with the limited onboard storage of the Apple Watch, the addition of GPS could allow runners, cyclists and other fitness enthusiasts to have more accurate information, such as pace and distance, without the need to carry an iPhone during a workout.
Apple is expected to hold a media event in a matter of weeks, on Sept. 7, to unveil its next-generation "iPhone 7." It's likely that the company could also unveil a second-generation Apple Watch at the same event.
Comments
Was really hoping for more medical metrics (O2 levels, blood pressure, etc.)
I'd prefer them add some more battery to it and beef up the health features.
I'd just disable it anyway. Like I wanna PAY MORE for a cell plan for my WATCH? umm.. no.. thanks.. I'll stick with the way it's at..
For Apple Watch, I agree the battery life is most valuable, so perhaps simply managing how and when it connects makes this work. I see a lot of value in an emergency feature that is standalone - dial 911 or similar, and the watch makes a call, reports your position, perhaps makes the mic live. But when it isn't doing that, cell connection is off. I actually think this is a killer feature of Apple Watch. With GPS and Apple Maps data, the watch actually knows if it should expect cell coverage.
I can see parents buying these for their kids as a lo-jack. Kid always has an emergency bat phone on their wrist at all times.
My wife and I go on 20 to 40 mile bike rides. Leaving the phone at home and relying just on the watch for navigation and communication is very appealing.
Exactly. There are many benefits to an Apple Watch having "always on" data reachability with cellular. Fully agree that it should not be put in until it doesn't significantly affect battery life, but make no mistake this will be important at broadening the uses and customers for the watch. Moving beyond easy calling of 911, think about a feature where the watch could detect if you fall and are not moving (could see that being motion/baramoter combination that is recognizable, that could be optionally enabled). It could engage to call a set of programmed numbers (children, care giver), or absent any connection there, could call 911.
On your point regarding standalone - I could see it being simply that when AW is connected to its paired iPhone, or on known Wifi, that cellular data is in a low power mode. It is only when not paired with phone or off that WiFi when cellular would engage. Same principle can be done for GPS as well, to handle battery life, I would think.
Finally, I hope Apple has some discussions with mobile operators to get some reasonable pricing. For example, adding an Apple Watch for data to an existing contract might be something like $5/month (or less).
In other news, Apple isn't likely to produce a flying car this year. Maybe next year.
Seriously, though the "tech" "press" really are kinda clueless. Now when they do produce a flying car, these bozos can say "Delayed since 2016, beleaguered Apple *FINALLY* introduces its flying car."
From my perspective it's more about data than telephony. If I'm on a bike ride, I want to be able to download maps data on the fly and see any text messages sent to me. I'd rather not carry a phone to have those features.
2) Even if you have an iPhone with you and whatever type of headphone setup you prefer, using the Watch to make or take a call is very handy. After more than a year of use I still say that the Apple Watch is unnecessary, yet indispensable. One of the best things is saving me time from having to pull out my iPhone to utilize my iPhone.
3) Cellular on the Watch doesn't have to be used for voice calls, nor come with a monthly data plan. Check out Automatic's new Automatic Pro. It comes with a '3G' with the first 5 years included. Now, I couldn't find any info on what that means in term of usage—which I really want to know since one of the new features appears to be real-time tracking of your car's location. Meaning, at $129 wiring the female port of an OBD-II to the car's wiring with the correct fuse could allow for an inexpensive and easily hidden DYI LoJack, without any service fees. Anyway, my point is that they could include a cellular radio that comes with a carrier deal, but only works for certain features, not for making calls without the iPhone or being usable without every having to sync to an iPhone first. God, I'd hate to have to set up the Watch without the Watch app on my iPhone.
because you know that it can take up to 15 to 20 minutes for the GPS chip to get sync to the satellites. Today phones use the cellular and known wifi networks to get a location until the GPS is online. Plus GPS when searching for the signal uses lots of power, That is why it make sense to have cellular and GPS together.
Neil,
I think the Bloomberg Article is base on information shares on this website and the AI pod case, I think you guys were the source of the Bloomberg article.
2) I see no technical reason why the Watch can't request A-GPS data from the iPhone via BT or grab it itself via certain WiFi hotspots (which are connected directly to the watch) to get info that allow GPS in the Watch to connect faster. It would offer a feature set that isn't already there, but I'm still considered with 18 months since the Apple Watch announcement, that even GPS is feasible. I can go many days without charging when backpacking by putting the Watch in AirPlane mode, but with GPS, I'd be less inclined to want to do that.
While there are many commenters on here who seem to absolutely deny the usefulness of GPS/Cellular to a watch - I can think of many useful cases off the top of my head:
Cellular: (based on the assumption that the phone is not always in range. e.g. running, wet activities, gym floor, or more simply just on its charger while you're somewhere else in the home/office.)
- Ability to stream music from various music accounts such as apple music and spotify (additionally without relying on limited onboard storage, and slow transfer speeds.)
- Siri, home automation, 3rd party apps that require 'net access would all immediately benefit. (E.g. Weather alerts, "hey siri" working in most conditions, receiving your messages anywhere, parcel tracking and so on.)
- AI relies on cloud interfacing, the watch is an ideal candidate for AI personal assistance of every kind - this benefits from being truly independent of the phone. (Also it's faster without having to hop through the handset.)
- Nearly every data-required application is enhanced if not reliant on the phone, similarly if all apps are now required to be phone-independent then it carries that data is available independent of the phone as well. (This also applies to GPS.)
- Calling is trickier - while call quality and connection performance would increase, the mobile network will need to support dual devices for a single number, this might be why cellular isn't included at this stage, it requires a bit more work/intelligence to support. However the short term solution is very simple: merely extend how the phone forwards calls to the watch over the WAN rather that just the local network. (This requires that the phone is on however, and would function a bit like facetime audio.)
GPS: