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Apple Watch officially launching in Israel next week

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Even before Apple shakes up the lineup with new bands and software next month, the Apple Watch is continuing its initial launch around the world. Israel, which doesn’t have an Apple Retail Store presence and instead relies on authorized resellers, is will be selling the Apple Watch locally for the first time next week.

iDigital, an authorized reseller owned by iCon Group in Israel, is expected to carry the Apple Watch Sport as well as select stainless steel models from 1,999 NIS, or about $430 USD without tax, starting Thursday, February 11th. Apple.com in Israel now lists the launch date as well.

Apple Watch sales in Israel up to this point have gone through unofficial channels with high markup prices or through out of country purchases.

While Apple CEO Tim Cook and company have held meetings in the country over the last year, in part to tour Apple facilities in the country, word that official Apple Watch sales wouldn’t reach Israel until 2016 first spread last year.

Siri Last week during Apple’s quarterly earnings call, Cook shared that the Apple Watch was being sold at 12,000 locations across 48 countries. Apple Watch initially launched in nine countries last April, later reaching seven more countries while steadily adding new locations around the world.

The timing of Apple Watch reaching Israel officially follows recent expansions of which languages Apple’s dictation and voice assistant support. Last year, iOS 8 added Hebrew support for speech-t0-text dictation, iOS 9 improved right-to-left language support, and iOS 9.3 adds Hebrew Siri support which is a major input method on Apple Watch.

Thanks Eytan!

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Comments

  1. macmaniman - 8 years ago

    This is proof of no apple watch in march

    • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

      I was just going to say the same thing. Why would Apple start to market and sell a Watch that’s going to get replaced that quickly afterwards? Doesn’t make much sense, unless they are going to ADD new watches to the pre-existing product line. I could see Apple coming out with new models with more features and then they would drop the pricing of the current Watches. That’s a possibility. They do that with iPhones and iPads, so that could be what is going to happen. I can see them having a wide array of models since every major watch maker has tons of models to choose from as they are fashion oriented to begin with.

      I’m sure they could come out with a $249 and $299 Polycarb version and it would sell extremely well. I would definitely buy one at that lower price point since I would use it while bike riding.

      I guess we’ll find out what they actually announce.

      • Adam (@rurza) - 8 years ago

        Original iPad was released in Poland on December 2010, 3 months before iPad 2. But, yeah – Steve Jobs would never…

  2. dolevmonfred123 - 8 years ago

    I’m from israel and I’m very excited about the Apple Watch

  3. Inaba-kun (@Inaba_kun) - 8 years ago

    Apple continuing its depressing support of countries with abysmal human rights records. Depressing but predictable.

    Expect an Apple Watch launch in North Korea or Islamic State next.

    • greatwizard1 - 8 years ago

      I think that maybe the Apple SVP, Johny Srouji, who is an Israeli Arab from Haifa (who was raised in Haifa and studied in the Technion), and has also convinced Apple to invest in Israeli R&D will disagree about the human rights thingie.

    • George Naftali Muenz - 8 years ago

      You know there will always be some guy.

      Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. In fact, Israel has Arab Israelis who are members of Parliament that demonize the country on a regular basis, something that would NEVER be allowed in the USA. The USA had ONE terror attack and promptly invaded TWO far-off countries that were no threat, killing thousands. Our neighbours are bothering each other in huge numbers, yet you preach to Israel? Jews tried to live in peace in other parts of the world, and we all know how that worked out. Now, in this tiny, tiny country, Israelis are surrounded by fanatics who would do much much worse to Israelis.

      Finally, in the last elections in Israel, over 1M Arab Israelis voted. In the West Bank, Abbas is in the 11th year of his 4 year term and no dissent allowed. In Gaza, Hamas rules by the gun. Check your facts

  4. Shai Mizrachi - 8 years ago

    The launching of the Apple Watch in Israel was delayed because Siri did not support Hebrew. And since the latest iOS (9.3 beta) brings Hebrew support, Apple brings the Apple watch to stores.

  5. Khamlichi Abd Salam - 8 years ago

    Apple should stop supporting Israel, with its long and depressing history of human right violation no country should have any affair with the apartheid state.

    • George Naftali Muenz - 8 years ago

      Hey, Khamlici, how come all those Jews left Morocco? Also, can you tell the readers here about Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara?

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.