Scalper1 News
Apple might add cellular connectivity in its next-generation smartwatch, as it races with rival Samsung to make the devices more functional. The Apple Watch has relied on a user’s nearby iPhone for wireless connectivity. Samsung’s Gear S2 users can read and reply to text messages and listen to voice messages but do not yet have Internet access or Web browsing. Apple is revving up new features amid disappointing demand for its initial device, says a Wall Street Journal report . Apps may run directly on the Apple Watch’s own processor. The new Apple Watch is expected to debut in September, along with the iPhone 7. That same month, Samsung is expected to take off the wraps of the next generation Gear S3 at Europe’s IFA 2016 show, in Berlin. Both Apple and Samsung have been active in an industry standards-setting group called GSMA. The industry group has been developing standards for electronic SIMs embedded in consumer electronics such as phones, as well as for the Internet of Things. The reprogrammable software does the same job as the SIM (subscriber identity module) card, often found under the mobile phone battery. Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch features a built-in e-SIM, also called smart SIM. A 9to5Mac report last year speculated that Apple plans to add videoconferencing capability to its smartwatches. Apple’s move into e-SIMs or soft SIMs could be a problem for wireless service providers such as AT&T ( T ) and Verizon Communications ( VZ ). That’s because with e-SIMs consumers could shop for the best wireless data plan and switch service providers much more easily. Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News