Apple is reported to be readying its second wave of online pre-orders for the Apple Watch in more countries around the world on May 8.
Apple apparently plans to set up display tables for the Apple Watch in its stores in time for the May 8 start of preorders, according to an internal source that spoke with Italian Apple enthusiast site iSpazio. Like in the U.S. and elsewhere, users will be able to try on the Apple Watch in stores to see what size and style suits them best.
iSpazio’s report didn’t indicate when those pre-orders would begin to ship, or the new countries that would be included in the online pre-order expansion. Italy is widely expected to be included in the second-wave, as Apple has already begun promoting the Watch in that country, with Apple marketing head Phil Schiller and designer Marc Newson appearing at the Salone del Mobile furniture design fair in Milan last week, both sporting the Apple Watch on their wrists.
For an idea of what countries might be included in the second-wave of Apple Watch pre-orders, AppleInsider points out that one only needs to look at the list of last year’s international rollout of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets. Those countries were: Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
This Friday, April 24 will see the Apple Watch officially launch in the U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, and the U.K.
UPDATE – 9to5Mac says their sources tell them that Apple has no plans to start taking second-wave pre-orders on May 8.
