TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Open RAN
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • 5G
  • Access Evolution
  • Private Networks
  • Cloud Native
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Sustainability
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • 5G
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Access Evolution
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • Cloud Native
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Open RAN
  • Private Networks
  • Security
  • Sustainability
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Devices

Devices

68% of iPhone owners cannot use the new Apple Watch’s best feature

Via Canalys Newsroom

Sep 21, 2017

Palo Alto, Shanghai, Singapore and Reading (UK) – Thursday, 21 September 2017

Apple is set to launch its latest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 3, on 22 September. But 68% of iPhone owners worldwide will be unable to use the device on a cellular network at launch.

The Apple Watch is the world’s most successful smartwatch line. Apple has shipped more than 30 million units since launch, and took 57% of the global smartwatch market in Q2 2017. It made headlines earlier this month when it unveiled the Apple Watch Series 3, with an integrated eSIM to support both LTE and UMTS connectivity.

It announced that 14 mobile operators across eight countries will support this functionality at launch. But buyers will not be able to use cellular tariffs from their choice of carrier, as is the case with cellular-equipped iPads. Apple Watch’s cellular functionality requires a companion iPhone, and that iPhone must be using a postpaid SIM from an eligible carrier. This means that most iPhones in use around the world will be unable to use Apple Watch cellular at launch. Additionally, in China, it will be initially limited to five regions, not including Beijing.

“The Apple Watch Series 3 is launching to a limited addressable market,” said Canalys Analyst Ben Stanton. “The total iPhone installed base currently sits at around 517 million. Of those, only 164 million are the right iPhones, with the right carrier, on the right tariff to work with the new cellular Apple Watch at launch. Apple’s potential buyers are spread across eligible and ineligible operators and contracts, and many will be disappointed. Apple needs to exert pressure on more carriers to make the required network investment before the buzz around its new product dies down.”

Image

Another six mobile operators are lined up to become eligible for Apple Watch cellular functionality soon. This would increase Apple’s addressable market with its new Watch to 47% of its total iPhone installed base. But Apple is yet to specify exactly when these operators will become eligible.

“There will be some churn as loyal Apple fans switch operators to unlock the full potential of the Series 3,” said Canalys Analyst Jason Low. “But customers in long-term postpaid deals with ineligible carriers often cannot do this without incurring a financial penalty. This will be a major barrier to early adoption of the Apple Watch Series 3. But eligible operators do have an opportunity to grow their sales of Apple Watches against retailers and Apple direct channels.”

Smartphone and wearable band quarterly estimates, market share information and forecast data is taken from Canalys’ Smartphone Analysis and Wearable Band Go-to-market Analysis services.

Related Topics
  • 4G LTE,
  • 6G R&I,
  • Access Evolution,
  • Announcement,
  • Canalys,
  • Device Software & Apps,
  • Devices,
  • Digital Platforms & Services,
  • Mobile,
  • News,
  • North America,
  • Tracker

More Like This

Open RAN Summit

Hardware innovation for Open RAN deployments

Jun 23, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

DSP Leaders World Forum 2022 Interview: Johan Christenson, Cleura

May 25, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

How DigitalRoute is Helping Telcos Adapt to the Cloud

May 24, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

DSP Leaders World Forum 2022 Interview: Mattias Fridström, Arelion

May 24, 2022

Digital Platforms & Services

Telefónica leads the financing round that Durcal closes for 8 million euros

May 20, 2022

This content extract was originally sourced from an external website (Canalys Newsroom) and is the copyright of the external website owner. TelecomTV is not responsible for the content of external websites. Legal Notices

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

10:14

Executive Interview: Vodafone’s Lucia De Miguel Albertos on the ultimate RAN Intelligent Controller

39:34

Figuring out the TCO of Open RAN

6:47

Dell's Role in Open RAN

4:24

Executive Interview: Neil McRae on BT's Open RAN Plans

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2022. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).