Apple’s (NASDAQ: APPL) long awaited Apple Watch entered the “initial launch phase” today at midnight Pacific time (3:01 AM ET) allowing customers to pre-order the smartwatch.
Deliveries for the watch will begin on April 24. At Apple stores around the world, including some pop-up specialty stores in high-end department stores in Paris, London and Tokyo, customers can try out the watch and pick a watch band in a preferred color.
“We are excited to welcome customers tomorrow and introduce them to Apple Watch, our most personal device yet. Based on the tremendous interest from people visiting our stores, as well as the number of customers who have gone to the Apple Online Store to mark their favorite Apple Watch ahead of availability, we expect that strong customer demand will exceed our supply at launch,” said Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores, in a statement. “To provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can, we will be taking orders for Apple Watch exclusively online during the initial launch period.”
Apple Watch Edition ship times coincide with the launch of the Apple Watch 2 pic.twitter.com/8vQ73m61sU
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) April 10, 2015
Many are watching the launch and success of the Apple Watch closely to gauge the potential for success of future smartwatches.
After the initial pre-orders opened for the Apple Watch, Apple’s US storefront crashed for a few hours. It currently has been restored and is accepting orders.
The Apple Watch launches on April 24 in United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Prices for the watch begin at $349 and top-off at $17,000 for the gold plated version.
