Telco giant Optus rolls out Apple Watch mobile broadband plans

In an Australian first, telco giant Optus has rolled out an Apple Watch mobile broadband plan just in time for Christmas. This is everything you need to know.

Telco giant Optus has rolled out an Apple Watch mobile broadband plan in an Australian first.

In a move timed perfectly in the lead up to Christmas, Optus has revealed it will begin offering Apple Watch 24-month broadband plans from Wednesday.

Customers can sign up to the new smartwatch plans which include its own stand-alone data SIM with 3GB or 10GB of data per month.

Number-sharing on the smartwatch can be shared with any Optus postpaid phone plan.

This means customers can take calls, check emails, send texts and use data all on their smartwatch without the need to have their phone handy.

They can also use their same number across both a mobile phone and smartwatch.

Optus head of product Shawn Van Graan said the move would help Australians stay connected at all times on the 4G network.

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An Apple Watch Series 4 smartwatch watch.

“It is our ability to purchase all their connected devices on one bill from one provider,” he said.

“Our plans are priced for all budgets starting from $35 per month for the Apple Watch Series 4 (40mm) which includes 3GB of data and the number share options for $0 per month.”

Normally customers are charged an additional $5 per month to share their mobile number with a smartwatch but no charges applies if eligible Optus customers take out one of these new plans.

Smartwatches continue to soar in use in Australia and will undoubtedly be a popular item in the countdown to Christmas.

Telco comparison website’s spokesman Joseph Hanlon said it was a win for customers.

“It’s great to be able to take calls from your number without having a new number for your watch,” he said.

“The 3GB of data per month will be handy when you don’t have your phone with you.”

The Apple Watch Series 4 GPS and Cellular 40mm with 4G retails for $749.

Mr Hanlon said the deals were good value.

“$750 is a big hit to the wallet for most people, so being able to split the cost out over a couple of years is great, especially when you’re not pay a premium for the privilege,” he said.

“So you are getting 3GB of mobile data for about $3.75 per month on the $35 plan.”

Rival Telstra offers the watch for $32 per month but it doesn’t come with a plan or any data, and you need to pay any extra $5 per moth for the number sharing capability.

Vodafone also allows customers to buy watches on plans and pay an additional $5 per month to share their mobile number with the smartwatch.

@sophieelsworth