Apple has announced its biggest advancement in iPhone history with two new smart phones - the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, packed with a lot of new features, including 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays and a new payment service called Apple Pay, which allows users to securely pay for physical goods and services in stores or apps with just the touch of a finger.
The phones will be available in India starting October 17, according to Apple's India Web site. Pricing details are not known.
While this is good news for Apple fans across the world, the launch could also augur well for mobile operators. Smartphone uptake in general is driving data usage in a big way. The new iPhones support high-quality voice calls over LTE (VoLTE) as well as Wi-Fi calling. They support for up to 20 4G wireless bands — more than any other smartphone in the world.
Paul Lambert, Senior Analyst, Operator Strategy at Ovum, said, “Apple’s new devices offer operators a great opportunity to increase data usage and data revenues. Each of the new devices will lead to more cellular data use, which is also great news for operators – especially if they can price data services in ways that capture consumers’ imaginations.''
However, operators will need to continue to invest in their networks to ensure they offer robust Internet access that can cope with the increase in mobile data traffic the new devices will bring about.
Mobile payments to get a fillip
The other big disruption could be in the area of mobile payments. Many agencies in India, including the telecom operators, have tried to push mobile payment services with limited success. Although Apple Pay will end up competing with the services offered by the telecom operators, it is bound to help in the long-term as the excitement around Apple products create more awareness, thus expanding the market size.
“Ovum believes Apple will prove effective at marketing mobile payments to consumers, not as a technology but as something that will make paying for goods and services with your phone fast, easy and even fun. When Apple introduces cool features on the iPhone, people tend to use them, which is critical for the future of NFC as an enabling technology," said Eden Zoller, Principal Analyst, Consumer, Ovum.
Disruption in wearables
Apple also unveiled Apple Watch which enables users to communicate in new ways right from your wrist by sending and receiving messages, answering calls to the iPhone, and with Digital Touch, sending something as personal as your own heartbeat.
Apple Watch uses the accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from your iPhone to provide a comprehensive picture of your daily activity.
The Activity app measures three separate aspects of movement: calories burnt, brisk activity and how often you stand up during the day. The Workout app provides goal-setting and pacing during popular session-based workouts, such as running and cycling. The companion Fitness app on iPhone collects your activity data so you can see your activity history in greater detail. Apple Watch uses this history to suggest personal, realistic goals, reward fitness milestones and keep you motivated.
Martin Scott, Head of Consumer Services Research at Analysys Mason, said,"Other manufacturers will benefit from a ‘halo’ of increased interest and awareness in smartwatches as a credible device type, but we do not anticipate any vendor from matching Apple in the short or medium term.''
Analysys Mason anticipatse that smartwatches will become the dominant wearable smart device by sales in early 2017.