Apple Watch rumoured for March release, according to reports

THE Apple Watch has been mysteriously lurking in the background as flashy gadgets from rival firms dominate CES headlines.

The Apple Watch has been mysteriously lurking in the background as flashy gadgets from rival firms dominate CES headlines.

But Cupertino has somehow found a way to steal the spotlight, with a new report suggesting the Apple Watch is set to be released this March.

A report by Mac news specialists 9to5Mac said “sources familiar with the product’s development” confirmed the Apple Watch is will start shipping by the end of March.

To this point Apple has been vague about an exact release date for the Watch, only describing it as “early 2015.” That would seemingly mean a Q1 launch is likely.

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The report adds retail staff from Apple stores will receive training on how to use the device as part of a training program expected to start mid-February.

Another big question urrounding the wearable is price. The Apple Watch will come in three variants, each expected to differ in price point. The standard Watch will come in stainless steel, with the Apple Watch Sport in silver or space grey aluminum and the luxury Watch Edition will be available in rose or yellow 18 carat gold .

Each model of Apple Watch will be offered in two sizes - 38 mm and 42 mm.

The device is as Apple puts it “the most personal device.”

“Apple Watch is right there on your wrist, so it makes all the ways you’re used to communicating more convenient. And because it touches your skin, we were able to add a physical dimension to alerts and notifications – you’ll feel a gentle tap when you receive an incoming message,” the company says.

“Apple Watch also allows you to connect with your favorite people in some new, spontaneous ways not possible with any other device.”

As Business Spectator reported in September, the Apple Watch maybe actually be a blessing in disguise for rival Samsung.

Apple’s entry into the smartwatch market “brings credibility, which may work to Samsung’s benefit”, says Jefferson Wang, a wireless and mobility consultant at Philadelphia-based IBB Consulting Group. “Samsung entered a white space, which they had to build up themselves, and it’s a heavy lift to get developers involved and build the ecosystem.”

That’s because, in the case of wearable devices, the idea of wearing a computer on one’s wrist is still so novel that -- no matter how big a slice of the market Apple takes -- Samsung executives believe the market can only grow from here, lifting all boats.