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Apple recently undertook a groundbreaking initiative that will bring unparalleled parental care through the launch of the "Apple Watch for Kids" in India. This is a totally new service whereby parents get an effortless and trusted way of staying in touch with their kids, giving them a device that teaches the demeanor of remaining independent and responsible all under one roof.
Designed with kids who do not have an iPhone, Apple Watch for Kids is geared to make the smartwatch safe and fully functional. It enables a parent to set up an Apple Watch for their child with their own iPhone. Through the setup, they can access core features like calling, texting, and location tracking.
Quick and Easy to Set Up and Manage: Parents can configure an Apple Watch for the child quickly and easily from their iPhone. They can set contacts, limits on screen time, and even configure location sharing.
Secure Communication: Phone calls and text messages between children and parents and any other pre-approved contacts are allowed.
Location Tracking: A parent can view their child's location in real time, thus allowing peace of mind and being able to respond if there is an emergency.
Health and Activity Monitoring: Key health and some of the activities that help in building healthy habits by being active can be accessed with Apple Watch. A parent can view a child's activity level, heart rate, and even monitor their sleep.
Screen Time Management: Parents control their child's screen time completely, limiting and managing the usage of the app.
How it Works
You will require the following to use Apple's Watch for Kids:
An Apple Watch Series 4 or later model or Apple Watch SE along with cellular
An iPhone 8 or later model with the latest iOS
A wireless cellular plan for Apple Watch: Currently, in India, the only provider for the same is Reliance Jio
All it takes is to set up a separate Apple ID for the kid, then add the phone number to the cellular plan, and then it is set up on the parent's iPhone
There are very essential advantages that are associated with technology, but a few concerns need to be assuaged. The following are the most critical:
Screen Time: There is the issue of ensuring that there is healthy screen time. Apple Watch for Kids provides parents enormous tools to ensure that this habit is managed.
Privacy: The data privacy policy that Apple follows is very stringent. And the parents should also make themselves aware of the privacy settings and take proper care at their end also for the same.
Over-reliance: Though the watch comes with some magnificent features, there should not be a loss in open communication between the parent and child, and face-to-face interaction also should be promoted.
The Apple Watch for Kids is a giant leap in parental care. The watch is a blend of technology that offers safety and convenience to parents raising their children to be more independent and, at the same time, giving them peace of mind. With further development in technology, there will be even newer ways of doing things in this area.
The exact details of Apple Watch for Kids concerning its pricing in India are yet to be officially announced. However, with the tag 'Apple' attached, it is bound to be a premium product. It will be available for sale through official Apple resellers as well as online channels.
Apple Watch for Kids—although a relative newcomer—competes with other kids' smartwatch offerings. Some of the key competitors include:
Smartwatches that incorporate SIM cards: These have many of the same features as the Apple Watch for Kids with calling, texting, and location tracking. They are often equipped with diminished app ecosystems, and, in some cases, their design and quality are somewhat compromised.
GPS-only smartwatches: These generally track and are cheaper with fewer features than their cellular brethren. Notable in this space is Apple's Watch for Kids, simply because of its backing by the Apple ecosystem and well-stocked app store, all combined with its ability to push its design and user experience.
While there are several ways in which an Apple Watch for Kids could prove useful, there are also some potential pitfalls:
Affordability: Apple products are premium-priced, so their accessibility to a larger population could become a concern.
Battery Life: With a child using it throughout the day, ensuring an adequate amount of battery life becomes essential. Apple will have to ensure the optimization of battery performance in order to meet the expectations of the users.
Privacy Concerns: Addressing privacy concerns is a significant issue, as is the case with any connected device. Apple will have to work toward continuing data security.
On the other hand, there exist immense growth opportunities:
Value Addition Features: Add more and more features that will make children want to wear, such as educational apps, playing games, and even socializing. Partnership: Collaborate with schools/colleges and child development experts to enhance the value proposition of the watch.
Geographic Growth: If the launch in India happens successfully, this can easily replicate other countries with similar demographics and grow rapidly.
Emergency SOS: One of the most critical features of Apple Watch for Kids is the function of Emergency SOS. It provides the ability for children to quickly get help in times of emergency. Long press the side button, and it will first launch an emergency call. After that, it will send a message to selected emergency contacts with the child's location.
School Mode: Apple Watch for Kids offers a School Mode to help kids focus on learning. It temporarily makes messaging and calling unavailable during school hours. Parents set specified frames of time when School Mode is to be activated to suit their child's school schedule.
Parental Controls: Apple Watch for Kids gives the parent thorough control to ensure that the experience is safe and age-appropriate.
Manage Contacts: Restrict the contacts who may communicate with their child.
Set Screen Time Limits: Display the daily and weekly limit of the screen time allowance. App Access Control: Approve or reject the download of apps. Location Sharing: It provides the location of the child and facility to set geophones.
Review Activity: Quantity of exercise and sleep pattern of the child.
The major differentiation in the smartwatch space gives the Apple Watch the following causes to stand apart:
1. Integration into Apple Ecosystem:
Deep integration: Works seamlessly with an iPhone, iPad, or any other Apple device.
Continuity of iMessage and FaceTime and all the apps: Allows getting into where one has left on another device.
Strong ecosystem: Benefits from the extensive Apple app ecosystem.
2. Health and Fitness Focus:
Advanced sensors: Includes various health and fitness tracking features like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, etc.
Rich data: Details of workout, heart rate, general health.
Apple Health app: Data is very easily synced into the Apple Health app for an overview.
3. Design and Build Quality
Materials used of great quality: Usually stainless steel, titanium, and ceramic.
Stylish design: It is available in different watch styles.
Comfort fitting: Designed to be worn throughout the day with consideration for comfort.
4. App Store and App Diversity
Dedicated app store: It has different apps developed only for the watch.
Diverse app categories: From fitness and health to productivity and entertainment.
Continuous development of apps: It has the benefit of a huge developer community.
