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KDDI will provide a “watch number” that allows the Apple Watch to use only voice and data communications. As of September 17, we will begin to accept campaigns that offer a one-year discount.
On Apple Watch Series 4 and later, a new feature called “Family Sharing Settings” will be provided, allowing you to make calls and communicate with just the Apple Watch. It is anticipated that the children in the family will not have a smartphone and will only use an Apple Watch.
To use the family sharing setting, the mobile phone company needs a dedicated plan and mechanism. After Apple’s recital on September 16, it was revealed that au would support him in Japan, and the “watch number” was announced at 2:00 p.m. on the 16th.
Prices start from 350 yen
When you subscribe to a watch number, you will be assigned a phone number for Apple Watch only. By linking a parent’s iPhone with a child’s Apple Watch with a family account, you can also get location information and manage in-app purchases.
For watch numbers, the “Pitatto 4G LTE Plan” for smartphones applies as a monthly rate plan.
Typically, the Pitatto plan is 3,150 yen up to 1 GB (2,980 yen for a 2-year N contract). If the family discount applies, there is a 1000 yen discount (in the case of a 3 person contract), but it is still 1980 yen, which seems to be a high price for a single Apple Watch contract.
Therefore, KDDI is implementing a “shared number transition campaign” this time. Starting the month after the contract, the discount will be 1630 yen for 12 months. Now you can use your Apple Watch with the family sharing setup for 350 yen per month.
This rate is up to 1GB. If the amount of communication with the Apple Watch only increases, the form of charge of the Pitatto plan will be pay-as-you-go, so the charge will also increase (1350 yen after discount up to 4GB, 2850 yen up to 7GB). However, the 1GB communication amount is 2000 (500KB per message) in iMessage. KDDI believes that 1 GB is sufficient for general use, including the acquisition of location information.
Difference between shared number and clock number
The au “Number Share” service, which was previously available on the cellular model of the Apple Watch, allows you to use the same phone number as the iPhone on the Apple Watch. You can also make and receive calls on the Apple Watch.
On the other hand, as for the watch number, as mentioned above, the phone number is assigned only to the Apple Watch.
In any case, the shared number is suitable for one person using the iPhone and Apple Watch, and the watch number is suitable for different devices used in the family.
By the way, even after the introduction of the clock numbers, users can subscribe to share numbers. You can hire either one, or you can hire at the same time. Even if it is registered at the same time, Apple Watch does not support the so-called DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby), so the user will have to manually choose which contract to use.
Why is it a perfect plan
Until now, service formats have been developed in accordance with the nature and character of the terminal, such as the development of price plans for the “mamorino” children’s mobile phone.
However, the watch number is the same as that of a general smartphone, the “Pitatto Plan” applies. why.
According to KDDI, Apple watches that are assigned phone numbers are in the same category as smartphones according to the guidelines of the Telecommunications Trade Law. Since it is a new type of device and application, we have prepared a contract form that includes fees in a way that meets the guidelines for now. However, as it seems expensive as it is, we decided to discount it in the campaign.
The company intends to monitor future trends and ideals of the system. The company plans to design the environment it wants to use according to the system and the device. Though not mentioned at the moment, the 350 yen price range can be expected to hold despite it being a one-year campaign.
only au
This time, Apple’s announcement says only au is subject to “family sharing settings”, and does not mention other carriers. Is it a monopoly or is it a precursor? KDDI says, “I honestly don’t know of any other companies.”
Certainly based on Apple’s previous announcements, only the au logo was shown in the presentation, and based on the description on Apple’s website about the Apple Watch, it appears to be an au-exclusive initiative at the moment.
For example, a year ago, au smartphone users were free for Apple Music for 6 months, and until the end of August, the number sharing fee was free for 6 months in the “Apple Watch Introductory Campaign. “. These points may have been evaluated by Apple and lead to this moment.
Set up a contract form
How about the technical mechanism? For example, in the 2017 stage when we started sharing numbers, it was the first time we supported eSIM, and it was a huge development for the party that makes and receives calls with the same number. This time, it is based on the eSIM mechanism developed at that time. And it is said that the maintenance of the contract form will be done by KDDI.
Regarding the newly developed “watch number”, KDDI “will provide it as a new service, and how will it apply to various use cases so that many people can use the Apple Watch in the future? ESIM”. The number of supported devices is increasing and there are no specific plans, but we would like to create as much value as possible as a new service, not just the Apple Watch. “
In Japan, mobile phones for children have been provided for many years, and there are some cases where even elementary school students get smartphones in the upper grades. How many users will the Apple Watch family sharing settings be used for? It is a place to get noticed.
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