Apple Watch Series 3 With LTE Connectivity Launches in Denmark, Sweden, India, and Taiwan

[MacRumors]

The Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE connectivity today became available for purchase in Denmark, Sweden, India, and Taiwan. Apple first announced plans to expand availability in those countries in April, and began taking pre-orders for LTE devices on May 4.

Cellular connectivity is available through "3" in Denmark and Sweden, while in India, Reliance Jio and Airtel will be offering support for the LTE Apple Watch. Neither Reliance Jio nor Airtel will charge Indian customers an additional monthly fee for an Apple Watch, with the device able to use the same number, data, and minutes from an existing prepaid cellular plan.

In Taiwan, carriers offering support for the Apple Watch Series 3 include APT3, Chunghwa Telecom3, FarEasTone3, and Taiwan Mobile.

The Apple Watch Series 3 models with LTE connectivity first launched in September of 2017, but availability was initially limited to a handful of countries. As of now, the cellular Apple Watch can be purchased in United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, India, and Taiwan.

Article Link: Apple Watch Series 3 With LTE Connectivity Launches in Denmark, Sweden, India, and Taiwan

 

[Mike MA]

That’s tough. 5 month away they will read about the new series already, with rumors starting even earlier.

 

[Rychiar]

late, why bother lol

 

[mtneer]

late, why bother lol

If they are always 8 months behind the leading markets, then how does it matter?

 

[agsystems]

"Neither Reliance Jio nor Airtel will charge Indian customers an additional monthly fee for an Apple Watch"
the way it should be with US Carriers

 

[Shirasaki]

"Neither Reliance Jio nor Airtel will charge Indian customers an additional monthly fee for an Apple Watch"
the way it should be with US Carriers

And so does many other first world countries carriers.
We guys live in premium countries so we pay premium to use the same service?

 

[macintoshmac]

If they are always 8 months behind the leading markets, then how does it matter?

The standard watch without LTE was released on time. I guess now that the provider support infra is there, we will see LTE series 4 releasing at the same time and not months later.

 

[kstotlani]

If they are always 8 months behind the leading markets, then how does it matter?

Only the LTE version is behind in these markets

 

[ipedro]

The $5/mo plan that Bell offers in Canada is the sweet spot for LTE on the Watch. Any more and it’s too much for a feature that is only seldomly used.

I’ll go running or walk down to the gym and leave my phone at home and it’s nice to remain connected. I’ve had times when my phone battery died and my Watch keeps me connected.

 

[tzm41]

It's only $1.5 per month in China... US wireless companies have minimal competition and charge the heck out of subscribers.

 

[QCassidy352]

"Neither Reliance Jio nor Airtel will charge Indian customers an additional monthly fee for an Apple Watch"
the way it should be with US Carriers

Yeah. The price in the US is BS. Costs them basically nothing, as the total data used on a Watch is measured in MB, not GB. But I guess enough people pay it, so...

 

[ggt]

Can we have it it on “3” in the U.K. too...

 

[rickpmg]

When, with LTE, in Italy?

 

[skitidetdu]

In Sweden it is limited to one carrier as well

 

[foxcub6]

Can we have it it on “3” in the U.K. too...

Apparently the reason it’s EE only it’s because the other networks don’t have the technology for LTE to work , I googled the question , as iam a vodafone customer and it won’t work on my network so thinking about upgrading my series 0 watch to a 3 gps only we will wait and see

 

[recoil80]

When, with LTE, in Italy?

I don't know why carriers are waiting to introduce the Watch here. They could charge 5 or 10 euro a month for the service and it would have little impact on the network in terms of traffic.
I'm not sure I'd subscribe to the plan though. It would be great for outdoor activities like jogging or cycling, I never carried the phone while cycling because it was inconvenient.
Ever since I moved to the city I'm more of a gym person, the iPhone is on a locker only 10 meters away and the Watch is receiving notification so LTE is basically useless to me. I still walk a lot, but have the iPhone with me all the time.
For 2 or 3 of euro a month I could subscribe to a plan, "just in case" but I couldn't justify an higher price.

 

[Schranke]

Does anyone know it the watch uses the same LTE band in all countries?
Like I can use it with the country specific carrier no matter were it is purchased?

 

[macs4nw]

Yeah. The price in the US is BS. Costs them basically nothing, as the total data used on a Watch is measured in MB, not GB. But I guess enough people pay it, so...

Correct. Also, you're not likely to be on your phone and your watch at the same time, so total usage with the LTE watch on your plan shouldn't be significantly higher anyway.

At any surcharge of more than a couple-o-bucks-a-month, we're being gouged, imho.

 

[Norwegian_Imposter]

Norway. When will they be included?

 

[konqerror]

It's only $1.5 per month in China... US wireless companies have minimal competition and charge the heck out of subscribers.

Right now, the Apple Watch is available on exactly one carrier in China. The whole country has only 3 carriers. All 3 are owned by the Government.

The US has 4 national, plus minors like US Cellular, right now, so your argument is flawed.

I don't know why carriers are waiting to introduce the Watch here. They could charge 5 or 10 euro a month for the service and it would have little impact on the network in terms of traffic.

The issue is they have to implement VoLTE with multi-device/Wi-Fi calling. AFAIK, none of the carriers in Italy have done the latter.

 

[Pupi]

If they are always 8 months behind the leading markets, then how does it matter?

This is usually only true for first-generation devices, in this case for 1st gen LTE Apple Watch, so that the infrastructure and everything else is in place, with the following generations being out in a timely faction. In fact the Apple Watch 3 non-LTE itself was out by the launch window, and the same will be true for AW4, this time with LTE versions included.

 

[Norwegian_Imposter]

Can’t wait for the lte to be activated in mine.

 

[Mydel]

Norway. When will they be included?

Forget it...We dont even have Applepay. And Im sure once its on its gonna be 1 bank..like DnB or something.

 

[Dualica 01]

Forget it...We dont even have Applepay. And Im sure once its on its gonna be 1 bank..like DnB or something.

It’s coming. But do we really need it? I’d much rather have LTE/4G on my future Applewatch

https://www.tek.no/artikler/apple-pay-kommer-til-norge/436167

 

[Aniruddh]

And so does many other first world countries carriers.
We guys live in premium countries so we pay premium to use the same service?

No, you guys have very limited options that's why this happens. Here, we have tons of options to choose from, no carrier can charge premium here anymore.

3 years ago, we used to pay premium for data, the pricing were ~$5/GB. It is ~$0.25/GB after Reliance Jio came into existence.

When you have limited options, companies charge premium because they have monopoly on business.