Apple Watch - LTE in NZ?

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lyndondrake

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#237804 18-Jun-2018 21:15

Any thoughts about Apple Watch LTE availability at some point in NZ? I'm in the UK and tempted to buy one with LTE in the hope that I can use it eventually in NZ, but unsure whether (a) providers esp 2degrees will ever offer it in NZ or (b) whether the UK version will be compatible even in that eventuality.

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#2040048 18-Jun-2018 21:17

Fairly sure its network compatible,

But, It has an e-sim, so needs explicit carrier suport...

coffeebaron

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#2040088 18-Jun-2018 22:06

eSIM is currently a nightmare, I'd advise against it. Have a look through this tweet thread:
https://twitter.com/onslaught86/status/1003347932307906560?s=19

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lyndondrake

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#2040107 18-Jun-2018 23:10

Ah, that's interesting. So I might as well just buy the wifi only model, save the money and potentially just upgrade at some point in the future

Handsomedan

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#2040983 20-Jun-2018 11:57

I spoke to an Apple rep a while back and they said it was all on the telco's, to be able to share an account/mobile number between devices, which takes some coding or some such. Billing platforms, maybe?

Anyway - the upshot was that we won't have the LTE Apple Watch here for some time as a result.

I'm still keen to get the LTE Apple Watch in Stainless Steel from AUS, then use it in non-LTE mode, as it's the only way to get a S/S Apple Watch in Series 3.

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lyndondrake

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#2041232 20-Jun-2018 16:50

Good to know. I'll go for the non LTE and save a little cash…

antoniosk

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#2041240 20-Jun-2018 17:13

Handsomedan:

I spoke to an Apple rep a while back and they said it was all on the telco's, to be able to share an account/mobile number between devices, which takes some coding or some such. Billing platforms, maybe?

Anyway - the upshot was that we won't have the LTE Apple Watch here for some time as a result.

I'm still keen to get the LTE Apple Watch in Stainless Steel from AUS, then use it in non-LTE mode, as it's the only way to get a S/S Apple Watch in Series 3.

I'm sure it's also the number portability systems as well. I havent' research eSIM for a while, but we're talking IMSI portability rather than number... and I guess that is something new everyone needs to invest in.

And of course most telcos will drag their heels, try to justify on the usual 'but wheres the money opportunity?' questions and eventually do it when the first telco does it and starts to get business.

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JonoNZ

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#2042297 22-Jun-2018 10:42

I'm running an LTE Apple Watch Series 3 purchased in Australia -- obviously no eSIM support here yet, but everything else works fine. I have asked Spark about Apple Watch/eSIM support and they said "no news yet but watch this space."

If you decide to get an LTE Apple Watch I'd recommend getting them from Aussie (or verifying which LTE bands it supports). The US one may not be the most compatible.

happyfunball

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#2046168 29-Jun-2018 18:52

coffeebaron: eSIM is currently a nightmare, I'd advise against it. Have a look through this tweet thread:
https://twitter.com/onslaught86/status/1003347932307906560?s=19

I see why telco's don't like it, but users should love it. Switching between telco's is under the users control, nobody is locked in and forced to use a certain eSim, ie. you can always switch. When you get off the plane in a country, you just open up your phone and pick an eSim plan. No visiting a booth or buying a stupid plastic sim card. Switching is just as easy.

The carriers are panicked about it though, so no surprise its being resisted: https://www.engadget.com/2018/04/21/gsma-puts-esim-on-hold-due-to-us-investigation/

dzh

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#2082829 2-Sep-2018 17:07

happyfunball:

coffeebaron: eSIM is currently a nightmare, I'd advise against it. Have a look through this tweet thread:
https://twitter.com/onslaught86/status/1003347932307906560?s=19

I see why telco's don't like it, but users should love it. Switching between telco's is under the users control, nobody is locked in and forced to use a certain eSim, ie. you can always switch. When you get off the plane in a country, you just open up your phone and pick an eSim plan. No visiting a booth or buying a stupid plastic sim card. Switching is just as easy.

The carriers are panicked about it though, so no surprise its being resisted: https://www.engadget.com/2018/04/21/gsma-puts-esim-on-hold-due-to-us-investigation/

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Linux

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#2082832 2-Sep-2018 17:11

Portable Ki string also for eSIM

I went to a few meetings about it in the last few months before leaving big red

John

sbiddle

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#2082966 3-Sep-2018 07:30

eSIM's are in many ways a dream solution for end users but a nightmare involving plenty of technical challenges for networks particularly around provisioning of their network data and Ki strings.

Just because a technology or standard exists doesn't mean it's simple to deploy or works well in the real world - just look at prior issues such as international MMS that still aren't fully resolved (but people just gave up on).

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geekiegeek

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#2083025 3-Sep-2018 09:31

sbiddle:

eSIM's are in many ways a dream solution for end users but a nightmare involving plenty of technical challenges for networks particularly around provisioning of their network data and Ki strings.

Just because a technology or standard exists doesn't mean it's simple to deploy or works well in the real world - just look at prior issues such as international MMS that still aren't fully resolved (but people just gave up on).

Hasn't stopped the Aussie telcos.

lyndondrake

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#2083040 3-Sep-2018 09:55

Exactly, telcos do lots of things that are difficult. I'm sure this is difficult too but it's a huge plus for consumers. Challenge in NZ is getting them to pay attention to that…

sbiddle

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#2083050 3-Sep-2018 10:12

lyndondrake:

Exactly, telcos do lots of things that are difficult. I'm sure this is difficult too but it's a huge plus for consumers. Challenge in NZ is getting them to pay attention to that…

Yes there are advantages of the eSIM, particularly around embedded devices where even the size of the nano SIM poses design challenges.

There are however significant cons to the solution - it is not a case of the eSIM being the best solution for consumers and I certainly wouldn't be the only person who would hate to see the eSIM become the norm. It becomes a means of lock-in that could remove customer choice, and Apple have their own agenda for wanting eSIM to become the de-facto standard. It could very easily allow them to tie service to Apple - where Apple is your telco provider and your only option for an iPhone is to buy an Apple subscription service for use.

lyndondrake

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#2083051 3-Sep-2018 10:15

Do you feel that the risk is that they stop allowing other providers? That seems like a fairly remote risk, and the other side of the coin (telcos locking customers in) is a proven problem

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