Apple Releases Update to Fix Watch Connectivity Issue
October 04 2017 - 7:17PM
Dow Jones News
By Tripp Mickle
Apple Inc. issued a software update Wednesday that it said
addresses some cellular-connectivity issues that have affected its
newest smartwatch.
The update comes two weeks after the company acknowledged some
of its new Series 3 model watches -- the first to feature an LTE
chip for cellular service -- had trouble connecting to cellular
networks because they were trying to join "unauthenticated Wi-Fi
wireless networks" in public places such as hotels and coffee
shops.
Apple said the new software, version watchOS 4.0.1, fixes the
issue "in rare cases" where that occurred.
The company declined to elaborate on how it fixed the problem or
why it was occurring. It also didn't say whether the fix resolved
all connectivity problems reviewers ran into with the Apple Watch
Series 3.
Reviewers at The Wall Street Journal and the Verge last month
reported encountering problems making calls, connecting with the
Siri virtual assistant and maintaining a cellular connection. The
Journal ran into issues across multiple wireless carriers.
Customers haven't complained widely about connectivity issues
since the watch went on sale Sept. 22. The risk of other customers
encountering those issues could have threatened Apple Watch Series
3 sales, said Brian Blau, an analyst with Gartner Inc.
The problem underscores how important software has become to new
devices, he said.
"If connectivity is a core feature, then there's potential
cascading effect if it impacts the performance of the device, and
there can be perception there are other issues too," Mr. Blau
said.
Write to Tripp Mickle at Tripp.Mickle@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 04, 2017 19:02 ET (23:02 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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