I think this is just IBM doing this. I didn't see anything in the article about Apple being involved other than being the one selling the watch.
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IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan
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I like IBM with Apple. IBM is very corporate but very neutral about progress. That has been my perception at least.
If you want to get the reward they provide for actually doing the activity, obviously. You expect them to take your word for it?
This is awesome! I see this as a way to get people to be healthier, and there is no better incentive, I think, to be healthier than a financial incentive, that could arise as discounted premiums for the healthier.
Mac's are being deployed in IBM, but their use is very limited (you may see a sales person with one, by probably not an engineer)
IBM still do P-Series, Mainframe and Storage ... and want to get into the Cloud
Apple could spend it's money in way better places than buying IBM. Not only is it a poor fit in terms of business, but the company philosophy and attitudes are very different.
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"IBM providing..." =/= Apple giveaway. IBM & the insurance company are paying for it.
Read.
They said they wouldn't announce sales number well before it even became available. They would be going against their word if they did, even if sales are fantastic (and by all outside analyst measure they are).
Even if the product comes from one of the world's very favorite companies, dunnit feel like a serious intrusion into one's personal life? I mean, you got me when I'm at work. And all those unpaid on-call situations, too. But this feels like a step in an unwelcome direction. "Dance for us, monkey. And make it a lively one, we're watching your vitals!"
They haven't made a consumer electronics gadget so appealing I'd want to board this particular train.
They haven't made a consumer electronics gadget so appealing I'd want to board this particular train.
what nonsense-speak is this? giving what away? please, try harder to find a way to hate something.
My employer offers a health incentive program for doing some screenings and tracking health, as well as reimbursement for a FitBit. That's the only reason I bought the first gen Apple Watch. My SS 42mm was mostly paid for by the incentive which is deposited into my account in the autumn after completing the goals, and I got a reimbursement for a FitBit which my wife uses. Unless the Apple Watch 2 comes out next year with glucose and blood pressure monitoring, I'll probably skip it and use my incentive money towards an iPad Pro 2, haha (we can use the money for anything). Otherwise I can basically use this to get a new Apple Watch every year, and it motivates me to stay healthy at the same time. It's a win-win, and Apple would be smart to try to get more programs like this going between employers and insurance companies. Especially as the Apple Watch matures into a more full-fledged health monitoring device with lots of sensors. This could save the insurance industry billions in early detection/preventative care.
The more I think about it, the more I think this was actually Apple's plan all along. IBM has been closely partnered with Apple lately, so it's no surprise that they're the first company to do this outright. Apple locks in deals with the insurance companies to provide watches—especially when they get advanced sensors. Insurance companies provide incentives for companies to comply and distribute the watches, such as a couple percent off their plan rates. The insurance companies reap billions in savings from catching serious illness ahead of time. Their customers are healthier, and the cost of a $500 watch is nothing compared to even a single pill in some cases, much less hundreds of thousands of dollars for months of treatment. Apple has a track record for secure data and privacy, which makes this a great fit. As a side effect, Apple picks up new customers who will want to get an iPhone to pair with their fancy new (free) Apple Watch. It's absolutely brilliant.
Called it and so it begins.
BTW, we do know that the Apple Watch is the most successful first generation launch of any Apple product (except possibly iPad, but then the iPad had 3 extra weeks of sales and it is really close); we know they sold more in their second quarter than in their first; we know Apple is projecting even more sales in their next quarter. We know this because Tim Cook said so, and there are legal implications if he were to lie, so it is safe to say he is not lying. We know that it has outsold all other wearables combined by a significant margin. What we don't know are specific numbers. So sure, you have the right to complain, though it might make you look a little dim.
I work at IBM and I got a Fitbit from this year's health & wellness incentive program. They don't force you to send your activity data, and it's really up to you whether you're gonna make the most out of it. I imagine it's going to be the same with the Apple Watch too.
Tim Cook did announce the Apple Watch launch was more successful than the 1st generation iPhone and iPod, and nearly equal to iPad (iPad had 3 extra weeks in its first quarter). He did announce that 2nd quarter sales were higher than first quarter sales. He announced they projected 3rd quarter sales to be higher still.
So, Apple tells us it is a record setting 1st generation launch and sales have grown since. We know it has outsold all other wearables combined by a significant margin by all third part predictions. And you are complaining that Apple has not announced specific numbers. What, in your great wisdom, could you determine with those numbers beyond what you already know?
Funny, I keep posting this info in every relevant thread and yet the "Apple Watch Failure" posts outnumber reality 5 to 1. Bizarro world.
From what seen the engineers are going for more macs than lenovos. Probably 4:1 ratio if not higher !