Apple Watch 3, the upcoming wearable device of the Cupertino-based company, recently entered its final testing stage. Apple is expected to embed impressive features on the smartwatch. The Apple Watch remains as the best-selling smartwatch on the market, which is why the company is trying its best to impress its valued customers with innovative changes on its devices.
LTE connectivity will boost sales?
Tech enthusiasts predict an increased sale of the wearable device because of its 4G LTE cellular connectivity feature. According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple Watch shipments are expected to increase to 4.5 million units in the fourth quarter of this year.
In total, the shipments could reach 15 million units by the end of the year. Because of the smartwatch’s popularity, the volume of shipments might hit 20 million units in 2018.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the LTE connectivity will allow the Apple Watch 3 to connect to cellular network providers without pairing it to a smartphone. In short, the smartwatch is going to be a standalone device. It could be Apple’s first wearable device to come with LTE since the first Apple smartwatch was introduced in 2015.
With the help of a built-in LTE modem, the Apple Watch 3 can receive calls and texts notifications, stream or download music while on the move, and do much more. Apple had begun talking with the United States and European network providers about the new feature.
The company that would manufacture the smartwatch’ LTE modems is Intel Corporation.
What did Apple and Aetna discuss in their meeting?
In other news, Apple and Aetna had a two-day conference to discuss partnerships with hospital chains to improve the Apple Watch. Aetna employees are currently testing the wearable device to find out if it really helps a person to eat better and exercise more regularly.
One of the main topics of the conference was data privacy. Aetna employees are collecting information if the device could be shared with third-party vendors. The two companies want to make sure that Apple Watch users will know what is shared and what is not.
Apple’s smartwatch is an expensive device and not everyone can afford it, which is why the unit cost is one of its unresolved issues.
Apple is using high-end features on the device, and no wonder it would be expensive. However, the company is planning to execute some kind of a discount program in early 2018, which will give Apple Watch costumers better princes.
