Apple Watch 2 news and updates: Emergency calling feature added
The second iteration of Apple Watch will be reportedly unveiled at Apple's big tech reveal this fall alongside major product launches that include that highly anticipated iPhone 7. Latest updates on the upcoming Apple Watch 2 indicate that the smartwatch will arrive with lifesaving 911 feature.
Following the separate deaths of two American female joggers whose murders remain unsolved, there has been a pressure to incorporate an emergency calling feature in mobile technology. This is a welcome development for fitness enthusiasts who often bring mobile devices like fitness tracking gadgets while exercising.
As reported by Glamour, the new watchOS 3 software update will give joggers and exercise buffs a panic button on their Apple Watch which will enable them to quickly get in touch with the authorities in an emergency situation. To get the SOS feature to work, the user only needs to long press the side button for about three seconds and the device should initiate a 911 call and ask help from local emergency services.
Moreover, the 911 feature also works for reporting medical emergencies where the device could share basic medical information like names, age, and any existing medical conditions to the emergency services. When the SOS feature is triggered, the Watch also sends an automatic message to friends and family members listed on the Watch's contact list in case of emergency.
The emergency calling feature was initially unveiled during the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco last June in a keynote presentation on the recent watchOS-related developments.
Meanwhile, current iterations of the Apple Watch have seen a drop in retail supplies as Apple retailers and distributors prepare for the highly anticipated launch of Watch 2 sometime in September per 9 to 5 Mac report.
So far, Apple appears to be in the market lead in the smartwatch sector. The company reportedly sold over 1.7 million units in the last quarter with business estimates suggesting that more than 12 million units more have been shipped since its 2015 launch, The Week reported.