While there has been a lot of buzz over the launch of Apple’s new watch, techies and bloggers say it may not have much of a market in the city.
According to blogger Kiruba Shankar, Apple Watch is a smart extension of the Apple Inc. ecosystem. “What Apple has done is to make use of the fan following they have to widen their base,” he said.
“In Chennai, however, Apple Watch will hardly be a blip on the radar, and it will only have a niche market,” he said.
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Apple Inc. unveiled details of the watch on Tuesday. It is set to launch in April.
For Pradeep Rajadas, president ofsociall.in, the main problem is the watch is heavily reliant on the iPad and iPhone.
However, he said, critics should wait a while before they decide to trash the phone.
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“If it evolves into a separate gadget and is priced a little lower, it might be more successful,” he said.
B. Sridhar, ophthalmologist at Max Vision Super Specialty Hospital, has an iPhone and an iPad, but is unimpressed with Apple Watch so far.
“I cannot imagine charging my watch every day, and investing $10,000 on it, when my phone has the same functions,” he said.
Law student Sithara Sarangan is excited, however. “I have followed the launch of the watch and am looking forward to its release in India,” she said.
Despite the initial reactions on social media, mobile phone stores are expecting good sales.
Manikandan K., head of corporate sales, Univercell, said, “There is hype in the market whenever an Apple product launches, and the watch is no different. We have received close to 1,000 enquiries today.”
Diehard Apple fans, though, are not willing to wait till the India launch. Gokul Visweswaram, director of NFN Labs, has arranged for a friend abroad to buy the watch for him before it comes to India.
“I have been using Apple products for 12 years and the Apple Watch will be very convenient for me,” he said.