It was only a matter of time before analysts and industry insiders took a welcomed break from predicting what Apple will do with the next-generation iPhone in favor of focusing on another of the company’s expanding product lines. For the time being, the focus has shifted to the Apple Watch, with a report coming in that Apple’s second-generation intelligent timepiece could ship with built-in cellular connectivity as part of a move towards device independence.
Taking the so-called Apple Watch 2 and kitting it out with a built-in cellular data functionality that could allow it to operate independently of a connected iPhone would certainly be an appealing prospect for consumers. The current-generation hardware currently requires a connection between itself and an iPhone via the native Watch iOS app to be able to access network features, and to even perform fairly basis tasks like texting and telephone call functionality. With that said, offering this type of feature undoubtedly has benefits, but also comes with very explicit downsides.
If the second-generation Apple Watch was to ship with built-in cellular data connectivity, then it would very likely require its own data plan in addition to the one that consumers already have on their iPhone or iPad. If that’s the case, then things can start to get very expensive very quick. There’s also the fact that some people simply might not want to manage and maintain different tariffs and plans with different providers just to be able to use their iPhone, iPad, and now the Apple Watch. Technology is meant to enrich and simply our lives. Not make it more difficult.
In addition to the cellular data speculation, historical reports have also alluded to the potential for Apple to go through a huge design overhaul with the next major version of the Apple Watch. It was initially suggested that the new hardware could come in at 40-percent thinner than the original Apple Watch. Prominent KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has however moved quickly to counteract that suggestion by claiming that the Apple Watch 2 could focus more on internal improvements under the existing outer case design.
With the device expected to be released this coming fall, it won’t be long until we start to see more concrete evidence of what Apple actually has in store for those consumers looking to dive into the world of wearables by taking a chance on the Apple Watch 2.
(Source: WSJ)
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