Apple services could be offered in ‘Apple One’ bundle
A combined bundle of all of its online services has been touted in rumors and speculation for some time, one that would bring together different subscriptions into one monthly payment. In a report on Wednesday, it seems Apple is getting closer to offering customers a deal.
Allegedly titled “AppIe One,” sources of Bloomberg claim the bundle is planned to launch as early as October, to coincide with the release of the next iPhone generation. The aim of the bundle is to try and encourage users to pay for more Apple services by offering an attractive proposition.
The plan would be offered with various tiers, with each variation offering a different combination of Apple’s existing offerings. For example, a basic package could combine Apple Music with Apple TV , with Apple Arcade added in for a higher-cost bundle, while adding in Apple News and additional iCloud storage will enhance the price more.
For consumers, the plans would be offered at a lower price than they would pay if they signed up for each subscription individually, at a saving of between $2 to $5 per month. Family Sharing would also be enabled, making the proposition even more valuable for groups.
The same sources indicated Apple One isn’t the only subscription program Apple may launch, with it working on a virtual fitness class service that could be made available across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Codenamed “Seymour,” the service would compete against similar offerings from Nike and Peloton, and while it would be available separately, it would also be offered as part of the same AppIe One package on a higher-end tier.
Not all services will be included in AppIe One, as Apple apparently doesn’t want to include AppleCare or monthly payment plans for hardware as part of the offering.
Apple’s potential all-in-one bundle has seemingly endured a bumpy journey for launch. In March, it was claimed some Apple Music agreements were causing problems for Apple in creating the AppIe One package.
More recently in June, evidence of a bundle appeared in code for iOS 13.5.5, with mentions of a “bundle offer” and “bundle subscription” hinting at the continued development.
Serial leaker Jon Prosser on Wednesday narrowed down this fall’s expected Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad product launches to near exact dates, saying the company will break with tradition and announce changes to at least two major product lines in a September press release.
In a tweet, Prosser claimed Apple plans to debut an anticipated “Apple Watch Series 6” and next-generation iPad models through a press release to be issued in the week starting Sep. 7. The leaker failed to specify which tablets are slated for unveiling, though current rumors point to a 10.8-inch iPad Air and refreshed iPad mini.
Distancing Apple Watch from Apple’s flagship iPhone line by announcing it separately — and in a press release, no less — would be an odd step for the company. That said, Apple is also rumored to be working on so-called “Apple Glass” AR glasses that could be ripe for announcement this fall.
Apple’s annual iPhone event is scheduled for the week of Oct. 12, Prosser said, adding that the company will break its “iPhone 12” launch into two phases. Mid-tier “iPhone 12” handsets will go up for preorder during the week of Oct. 19, followed by top-tier “Pro” handsets sometime in November, according to the tweet.
“With the staggered release of iPhone 12 and uncertainty of final dates for Pro models, there’s a chance that the dates could slip/change,” Prosser said in a follow-up tweet.
A potential staggered launch timeline was first reported by Digitimes last week. At the time, sources from within Apple’s supply chain reportedly said the tech giant could launch two 6.1-inch models in a first phase and 6.7- and 5.4-inch devices in the second.
Apple CFO Luca Maestri in an earnings conference call in July confirmed iPhone would launch a “few weeks later” than usual, intimating a release date in October or beyond.
Apple is expected to launch four “iPhone 12” models across multiple price points. More affordable 5.4- and 6.1-inch “iPhone 12” models are rumored to sport OLED screens, dual cameras, an “A14” processor and aluminum chassis. Top-end 6.1- and 6.7-inch “iPhone Pro” handsets add upgraded displays — potentially with Pro Motion technology — an extra camera and, on the largest “iPhone 12 Pro Max” model, a LiDAR Scanner.Â
All 2020 iPhones should boast 5G connectivity.