Apple Watch - LTE in NZ?

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Apple Watch - LTE in NZ?

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939 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 112

#2278960 18-Jul-2019 13:20

I asked my account manger about this in May and this was his response:

"... on the esims, yes there is a project underway but this is still in the early stages with a roadmap of being ready in the next 6-8months, but was told to stress this is still in the evaluation and planning phase so this may change."

boosacnoodle

1274 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 858

#2314445 10-Sep-2019 19:03

At least one senior Vodafone NZ manager I know of is using their Apple Watch on LTE. So it's available and being tested.

bitserf

101 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2314924 11-Sep-2019 11:57

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

nzbob123

10 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2314933 11-Sep-2019 12:05

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

I think it just hasn't been a priority for either company.

Looking at Spark's twitter feeds/questions etc there are a number of people wanting it and Spark's answer is 'within the next 6 months'.

Linux

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#2314936 11-Sep-2019 12:10

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

@bitserf It's budget related and where they want to spend the $$$ and clearly Apple watch is not priority!!

I'm glad they decided to spend $$ in other areas of the business instead of a few crying Apple Fans

Linux

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#2314937 11-Sep-2019 12:11

nzbob123:

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

I think it just hasn't been a priority for either company.

Looking at Spark's twitter feeds/questions etc there are a number of people wanting it and Spark's answer is 'within the next 6 months'.

@nzbob123 No not competence issue but budget and where the yearly capex is spent and this should be way down the list!

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boosacnoodle

1274 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 858

#2314949 11-Sep-2019 12:49

Spark is intending to launch it later this year, but there is quite a bit of work to do in order to enable Number Sharing.

kbkiwi

56 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 23

#2314957 11-Sep-2019 12:56

Linux:

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

@bitserf It's budget related and where they want to spend the $$$ and clearly Apple watch is not priority!!

I'm glad they are decided to spend $$ in other areas of the business instead of a few crying Apple Fans

”...A few crying Apple Fans”

Seriously? That’s what you went with for your comment? You really know how to win friends don’t you.

There are well over 100,000 Apple Watch users in New Zealand, many of which would gladly sign up with a carrier for LTE service if the LTE watches were offered here by either Vodafone or spark. Most of these users are on the wealthier end of the population as well - so it would be a profoundly stupid business decision to not cater to this segment.

Linux

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#2314959 11-Sep-2019 13:00

kbkiwi:

Linux:

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

@bitserf It's budget related and where they want to spend the $$$ and clearly Apple watch is not priority!!

I'm glad they are decided to spend $$ in other areas of the business instead of a few crying Apple Fans

”...A few crying Apple Fans”

Seriously? That’s what you went with for your comment? You really know how to win friends don’t you.

There are well over 100,000 Apple Watch users in New Zealand, many of which would gladly sign up with a carrier for LTE service if the LTE watches were offered here by either Vodafone or spark. Most of these users are on the wealthier end of the population as well - so it would be a profoundly stupid business decision to not cater to this segment.

As I stated above my comment does not change! The carriers know what is priority work and where the $$$ should be spent

I would rather see the budget spent on VoLTE / 5G and upgrading of the mobile network which benefits end users more

Nate001

677 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 465

#2314968 11-Sep-2019 13:19

kbkiwi:

Linux:

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

@bitserf It's budget related and where they want to spend the $$$ and clearly Apple watch is not priority!!

I'm glad they are decided to spend $$ in other areas of the business instead of a few crying Apple Fans

”...A few crying Apple Fans”

Seriously? That’s what you went with for your comment? You really know how to win friends don’t you.

There are well over 100,000 Apple Watch users in New Zealand, many of which would gladly sign up with a carrier for LTE service if the LTE watches were offered here by either Vodafone or spark. Most of these users are on the wealthier end of the population as well - so it would be a profoundly stupid business decision to not cater to this segment.

Budgets are always limited, obviously this not a priority in NZ. Would you rather they invest in better coverage and speeds or so a watch can connect to the mobile network? No point connecting your watch if the network is patchy.

Do you want it? - Yes. Do you NEED it? - I doubt.

TheMungus

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2329072 3-Oct-2019 15:06

Nate001:

kbkiwi:

Linux:

bitserf:

Does anyone have an idea why Vodafone and Spark both are struggling so much to do something that has already been done heaps?

https://twitter.com/vodafoneNZ/status/1171556431788593159

https://twitter.com/SparkNZ/status/1171563903727407105

(e.g. Vodafone Aus has Watch LTE for years now)

Is it a competence issue?

@bitserf It's budget related and where they want to spend the $$$ and clearly Apple watch is not priority!!

I'm glad they are decided to spend $$ in other areas of the business instead of a few crying Apple Fans

”...A few crying Apple Fans”

Seriously? That’s what you went with for your comment? You really know how to win friends don’t you.

There are well over 100,000 Apple Watch users in New Zealand, many of which would gladly sign up with a carrier for LTE service if the LTE watches were offered here by either Vodafone or spark. Most of these users are on the wealthier end of the population as well - so it would be a profoundly stupid business decision to not cater to this segment.

Budgets are always limited, obviously this not a priority in NZ. Would you rather they invest in better coverage and speeds or so a watch can connect to the mobile network? No point connecting your watch if the network is patchy.

Do you want it? - Yes. Do you NEED it? - I doubt.

I am just off the phone with Apple support - they told me that if I buy an Edition titanium Series 5 in Brisbane, that AppleCare+ would be honoured here in NZ, DESPITE it being an LTE watch. However...I’m not entirely sure I want to take the risk.

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geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 625
Inactive user

#2329087 3-Oct-2019 15:51

Was going to wait but if its going to be something like 6 months away I figured I might as well upgrade to Series 5 GPS for now and just sell it when LTE finally comes along or even just wait til Series 6 and hope LTE is done by then. Order placed, arrives tomorrow. Looking forward to always on screen for when I'm running and I'm sure there will be some performance improvements.

TheMungus

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2329089 3-Oct-2019 15:53

geekiegeek:

Was going to wait but if its going to be something like 6 months away I figured I might as well upgrade to Series 5 GPS for now and just sell it when LTE finally comes along or even just wait til Series 6 and hope LTE is done by then. Order placed, arrives tomorrow. Looking forward to always on screen for when I'm running and I'm sure there will be some performance improvements.

About to do the same, I think - but I’m irritated, as I really wanted the titanium.

myopinion

939 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 112

#2354286 15-Nov-2019 14:29

Does JB Hifi know something? They are listing LTE versions on their website now (as of 5 hours ago) https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/health-fitness-wearables/apple-watch/

TheMungus

24 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2354293 15-Nov-2019 14:56

That’s infuriating if they do - nothing on the Apple NZ site yet, though.

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