NOW CLOSED – New Zealand gamers, you don’t want to miss this…

Aotearoa’s ultimate gaming festival, Spark Game Arena Live is coming to Auckland on September 7th, 2024 at Spark Arena.

Watch the live Rise Cup Tournament featuring Fortnite and get hands on play with the latest games on Xbox, jump in to racing sims, go retro with old-school Arcade games, free-play Fortnite and Fall Guys, Just Dance, Street Fighter 6 and more

Thanks to our friends at Spark Game Arena, we are giving away THREE Double Passes for the MORNING session (9am to 2pm) of Spark Game Arena Live, held on 7th September 2024 at Spark Arena.

To enter this Giveaway it’s real easy… there’s no tricky question or quiz, just send us your details and you’re in the draw.

Hit us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email.

Important stuff: Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / DM / Email in accordance to the above Question (if there is one). Winner(s) will receive a digital Double Pass for the Spark Game Arena Rise Cup Tournament featuring Fortnite from Spark Game Arena directly – and for the morning session only. Competition ends on the 25th of August 2024. Ticket must be secured by the winner before 5pm Monday, 30th of August. Only New Zealand entries are accepted for this promotion. Spark Game Arena Live is a ticketed event. Anyone 14 or younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/whānau member who is 16 years or older.  

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Spark announced today it is entering gaming with the launch of Spark Game Arena, kicking off with a nationwide online tournament – The Rise Cup featuring Fortnite – in partnership with New Zealand’s esports tournament organiser, Letsplay.live.

Tournament participants will battle it out over three weekends starting on 28 October for the chance to win a share of $30,000 – the largest ever prize pool on offer for a Fortnite tournament played in Aotearoa.

Prizes will not only be won by podium finishers who progress through to the final round, but also randomly selected registrants will have the chance to win prizes such as an Xbox Series X and Logitech G Aurora gaming headphones.

The ambition for Spark Game Arena is to become the home of gaming at Spark, from partnerships with brands such as Logitech G and Xbox, through to supporting events like Armageddon and the New Zealand Game Developers Conference. Spark Game Arena will offer exciting new products and experiences set to be announced over the coming months.

Spark’s Director of Marketing and Data, Matt Bain, says: “While this will be our first time hosting an esports tournament and there will undoubtedly be learnings as we go, gaming is a natural extension of our entertainment strategy and embodies our guiding kaupapa of Hello Tomorrow.

“We have been getting customers closer to music for nine years now with our money can’t buy VIP music experiences and our partnerships with Spotify and Spark Arena. Just like Spark’s music offering, Spark Game Arena will be all about bringing New Zealanders closer to the things they love, and we know we love to game in this country.”

The gaming industry’s growing popularity in Aotearoa was highlighted by research released last month from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) which showed 79% of New Zealanders are now playing video games. Additional data from the New Zealand Game Developers Association also indicated the country’s gaming sector grew almost 50% in 2022.

Bain adds: “We’re excited to be trialling something new working alongside Letsplay.live, an organisation that knows New Zealand’s gaming sector well and is well placed to help us deliver The Rise Cup. Whether you game competitively, jam Fortnite with your mates or want to try your luck at something new, you don’t have to be a pro, you just have to be ready to give it a go.”

To ensure The Rise Cup is promoting a safe and supportive online gaming environment and to help guide the future of Spark Game Arena, Spark has been working alongside Netsafe to embed processes into its tournament that allow players to keep themselves safe and report harmful behaviour when needed.

Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe, Sean Lyons, says: “At Netsafe, we know that we are all safest online when those around us are keeping an eye out for us, keeping our best interests at heart.

“That’s not only for our whānau (family) and friends, but for the places and spaces we use online. And the best way for those places to help kee­­p us safe, is to plan for safety right from the start.

“The team at Spark have been talking to us at Netsafe since the very earliest days of this work, to make sure that what they are building reflects the principles of safety by design.”

As part of Spark Game Arena, Spark is also expanding its partnership with Digital Natives Academy (DNA), a Spark Foundation partner since 2018 that supports rangatahi who need access to technology to embrace a digital future that respects and reflects te ao Māori. Over the last six years, the partnership has helped more than 30,000 tamariki and rangatahi (young people) attend DNA events, activities and programmes, to increase their digital skills and to provide access to game industry knowledge in esports, game development and design.

Spark has been working closely with DNA co-founder and NZ Esports Federation Board Member, Nikolasa Biasiny-Tule, on the development of its gaming strategy to enhance Aotearoa’s gaming sector and help create more equitable pathways for rangatahi into gaming.

The expansion of the partnership with DNA will enable five more aspiring game development students to join DNA’s Esports Essentials programme for free. Applications for this programme will open later this month.

Registrations for The Rise Cup featuring Fortnite will close at 11pm, 23 October 2023 with the first round played on 28 October 2023 and the finals played on 12 November 2023. For more information about the tournament and how to register in The Rise Cup – visit spark.co.nz/gaming.

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HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has announced the expansion of its range at Spark NZ.

The leading New Zealand phone carrier will soon offer at least one device across the newly named X, G and C-Series Nokia smartphones.

The hero device of the line-up is the Nokia X20 5G, designed to withstand the hustle and bustle of everyday life and backed by Nokia mobile’s industry-leading three year warranty.  The device also comes with two years of Android OS Updates and three years of security updates as well as a 100% compostable case in the box. Customers will also receive the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite as a gift with purchase with the Nokia X20.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G Mobile Platform, the Nokia X20 delivers series-defying performance and truly global 5G.

Ready and waiting to capture the world in crisp detail whether day or night, the Nokia X20 uses the versatile AI-powered 64MP quad camera with renowned ZEISS Optics.

Featuring an ultra-wide lens for impressive scenic views, a macro-lens for intricate close-ups, and a depth sensor for portraits that stand out. Plus, the new Dual Sight Multi-Cam mode gives the ability to shoot videos using the front and rear cameras simultaneously.

The Nokia G10 is available from today and bolsters Spark’s G-Series offering, joining the already launched Nokia G20. A hard worker for its attractive price point with a 5050mAh battery, it powers through up to three days on a single charge and the generous 6.5” display is big enough for the whole family to gather around and enjoy.

Continuing to offer the quality Nokia phones are known and trusted for, the Nokia G10 also offers customers added peace of mind with a three year warranty, as well as three years of monthly security updates and two years software upgrades.

James Robinson, ANZ Country Manager, HMD Global said: “At HMD Global, we take pride in looking after our customers for longer and we’re proud to introduce new Nokia smartphones that are backed by our three year warranty. Throughout our range and regardless of price point, our devices are built to last. We’re pleased to be able to offer more reliable and affordable devices into the hands of Kiwis for them to love, trust and keep for today and years to come.”

Keryn Possin, Device Sourcing Manager at Spark New Zealand, said: “It was an obvious choice for us to expand our range of Nokia phones for our customers. Nokia is a name trusted by Kiwis and we know that Nokia phones offer what is important to our customers- value for money, the latest features and generous warranties.”

The Nokia C01 Plus will be the last of the new smartphones to arrive at Spark this September. Bringing renowned Finnish reliability to one of the lowest-priced Nokia smartphones, it’s an attractive option for price-sensitive customers looking for long-lasting battery and durability.

All devices offer clean, easy to use and customisable pure Android experience free of bloatware and third-party apps.

The Nokia G10 in Night (3 GB / 32 GB variant) is available now. The Nokia X20 in Nordic Blue (6 GB / 128 GB variant) is now available.

And finally the Nokia C01 Plus in Blue (2 GB / 16GB variant) will be available from September 2021 from Spark.

The post Spark NZ Increases its Nokia range appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Within New Zealand’s borders, many kids are leading fairly normal lives, taking part in school, enjoying weekend sports or other hobbies and are growing up fast.

But border closures continue to physically separate them from overseas family and loved ones who may fear they’re missing out on some precious younger years.

Spacetalk Adventurer, the next generation of kids’ smart watch is designed to better connect family and loved ones near and far with the Kiwi kids in their lives – the new watch enables kids to chat with overseas family, features a camera for photos and videos, and launches today, exclusively available through Spark.

Equipped with the latest kids’ smart watch technology, the watch lets kids aged 5-12 enter the world of mobile technology without having open access to the internet – that means no social media, no video streaming websites, and no other apps.

But the new Spacetalk watch provides a safe platform for kids to take part in family group chats with emojis, photos, videos and voice chat. Their contacts are pre-selected, and adults can chat via the Spacetalk App using any compatible iOS or Android device that is connected through New Zealand or supported overseas network providers.

Spark customer, Myron Simpson said his daughter’s first generation Spacetalk watch has offered him and his wife great peace of mind while she goes for bike rides or walks to school. But said that with her granddad living part time in Mexico it would be great to have the ability for them to stay connected directly without access to a mobile phone.

“It would be fantastic for our girl to be able to keep in better contact with her granddad – she’s growing up so fast and I know he sometimes feels like he’s missing a lot. We’re looking forward to setting up her new Spacetalk Adventurer so she can send him videos and photos and share more of her life with him directly when he’s overseas,” said Myron.

As well as its social functions, the watch offers parents some comfort while allowing their kids the freedom to follow their curiosity and enjoy the adventures of childhood.

The app lets parents and caregivers monitor their child’s whereabouts using GPS; view the weather at their location; and get notifications if their child enters or leaves a pre-defined safe zone – all whilst keeping them safer from potential online harm. Kids also have an SOS button they can press if they were to run into trouble.

Spark Product Director, Tessa Tierney said kids are growing up in a world where digital solutions are an intrinsic part of our daily lives, and this is only increasing.

“Naturally, mobile is something kids want to take part in, but it can be challenging monitoring how they’re using smartphones and other devices, and what they’re exposed to. The Spacetalk kids watch is a great first step for kids until parents are comfortable they have the wisdom to use the internet responsibly,” said Tierney.

The Spacetalk Adventurer has many other features including reminders parents can set up for their kids for things like remembering to take their medicine, or bring a school newsletter home, a ‘school mode’ allowing the watch to be disabled for distraction free learning, as well as heart rate monitoring, step counting and movement sensors for kids to start learning about health and fitness.

Spacetalk CEO Mark Fortunatow said the launch of the new Spacetalk Adventurer and new Spacetalk app is a huge advancement for the kids connected wearables category.

“It builds on what we have learned from the phenomenal success of the existing Spacetalk Kids device. We’re excited to be working with Spark to make it available for Kiwi families to help them stay connected and children safe,” said Mark.

Spacetalk Adventurer is available in a range of colours, exclusively from Spark retail stores or at spark.co.nz.

The Spacetalk app is available for the whole family to use on their own devices with one monthly subscription fee, which is payable in addition to the Pay Monthly Smart Plan. More info can be found at the official Spark NZ Spacetalk page.

Devices are powered by Spark’s extensive, nationwide 3G and 4G mobile coverage.

The post Spark’s New kids’ Smart Watch keeps Families Better Connected appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Six months after being named as winners of the Spark 5G Starter Fund, four innovative Kiwi businesses are launching their game-changing technology prototypes, offering a first look at the positive outcomes 5G can bring to communities across New Zealand.

Robotics company Rocos, VR gaming creator Beyond and health businesses Objective Acuity and oDocs Eye Care were the successful recipients of a share of $625,000 of funding and technology support from Spark in October 2020.

Since then, each business has been tirelessly developing, testing and refining its 5G solution tapping into expert 5G technical support and business mentoring by Spark and its partners.

This involved an exclusive opportunity to test and co-create each 5G-powered solution inside Spark’s new Innovation Studio that launched to the public in March 2021.

Entry criteria for Spark’s initiative required the technology concepts to demonstrate how 5G could bring positive outcomes to communities across New Zealand.

Spark’s Technology Director, Mark Beder says that the Spark 5G Starter Fund uncovered some of New Zealand’s most innovative 5G pioneers.

“Each winner is set to make history by being amongst the first in the country to embrace the powerful potential of our 5G network to revolutionise their respective industries. From democratising eyecare, developing a world-first immersive gaming experiences and taking the manufacturing industry to new, robotic heights, Spark is proud to support these four Kiwi businesses to deliver transformative solutions for New Zealand and New Zealanders.”

oDocsis on a mission to make eyecare globally accessible, equitable and affordable. Using the power of 5G, oDocs has developed a secure and encrypted live consultation portal that serves to connect healthcare professionals to patients in remote regions. 5G technology makes it possible for clinicians, expert and non-expert, to conduct an instantaneous live-stream consultation using a 5G enabled device attached to a handheld ophthalmoscope. The portal will empower and enable all clinicians for appropriate triaging and referrals to ophthalmologists, reducing waiting lists for screening and follow-up, thus improving the management of the healthcare workforce.

Objective Acuityis breaking away from the traditional and often unreliable letter chart vision test by using 5G technology to develop a suite of software-based vision screening and acuity tests that are more accessible and accurate for detecting vision problems in younger children. Spark 5G enables Objective Acuity to further improve accuracy and make testing up to 7 times more efficient through a real-time result. It will soon use AI to optimise the test automatically as data is collected – helping Objective Acuity towards its ultimate goal of democratising vision screening.

Beyond is a Wellington-based virtual reality game studio, has developed a world-first for the e-sport market – the ability for multiple gamers to join free-roam, virtual reality game Oddball via their 5G mobile phone, opening the location-based VR gaming world to those without a VR headset. The application is made possible through 5G, which in the future will ensure no players experience any lag and enables both physical VR and mobile players to interact seamlessly and safely together. 5G enables Beyond to bring immersive VR to the masses like never before. High speed enables 4k streaming of our content on mobile phones and players will be able to join in on the fun in real-time.

Rocos is demonstrating the power of 5G by showcasing how remote teleoperation and robotic automation can be used to revolutionise industries. The mass connectivity and low latency that 5G will provide in the future, will make it possible to automate physical tasks at scale, improving the capability of autonomous missions undertaken by robots, such as scanning and monitoring a construction site or power grid, thereby reducing health and safety risks.

The 5G Starter Fund winners showcased their 5G technology solutions during a Media Demo Day on May 6th, 2021 at Spark City in Auckland, New Zealand.

To find out more about the Spark 5G Starter Fund visit spark.co.nz/5g/home/starter-fund/.

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Spark has partnered with world-leading esport investment firm, Guinevere Capital, and New Zealand’s national stadium Eden Park to kit-out and power New Zealand’s first 5G high-performance esports hub.

The Spark esports Hub will be the home training ground for both professional and aspiring gamers, offering them a dedicated space connected via both fibre and 5G, providing a reliable back-up for players when gaming in the training rooms as well as the chance to practise their mobile gaming over 5G.

The space is fully equipped with dedicated training rooms, broadcast capabilities, a 5G mobile gaming area and a venue to host future major esport events.

Spark’s Marketing Director Matt Bain says Spark has long had a strategic focus to get customers closer to the things they know and love and the vision behind the launch of Spark’s 5G esports hub is no different.

“We already provide Kiwis with some of the best experiences New Zealand has to offer through our exclusive partnerships with Spark Arena, Netflix and Spotify to name a few. The launch of Spark’s esport Hub is a natural extension to our strategy, with two thirds of New Zealanders engaging in some form of interactive digital entertainment such as mobile and PC gaming.”

One such New Zealander is 26 year-old Dire Wolves member Andy Van Vyer, better known as Cupcake, whose full-time job is to train and compete in the multiplayer online battle game League of Legends.

“There’s a common perception that esports is not a real sport, but we have very similar needs – we train for six to eight hours a day, we aspire to compete on the world stage and we get millions of people tuning in to watch us do what we do best.”

The Spark esports Hub is not only going to provide gamers with a place to develop their PC gaming skills, but also the chance to immerse themselves in the future of mobile gaming, providing access to 5G compatible phones with clip-on mobile controllers.

“The future of 5G is something the New Zealand gaming community is really excited about. Having access to speeds up to 10x faster than 4G can be the difference between victory and defeat when gaming on the go. As 5G reaches more places, it has the potential to transform the way we game and interact with our peers through technology such as augmented and virtual reality,” says Cupcake.

The global esport market is estimated to be worth USD $1.1 billion and is an industry enjoyed by both players and spectators with more than 40% of New Zealanders having watched esports to improve their own gameplay or follow a favourite team.

Principal Architect of the facilty and Owner of the Dire Wolves, Jason Spiller says the New Zealand gaming industry has a lot of potential for growth and the Spark 5G esports hub is a major step in giving both professional and aspiring gamers the ability to hone their skills in an environment that’s custom built for them.

“Spark esport hub is also a critical piece of infrastructure to put New Zealand on the map as an esport destination. It’s a place for Kiwi gamers to physically be together, plan and strategise gaming tactics, all of which will provide that level up to help them compete with international teams.”

The Spark esport hub is located at Entry A, Walters Road Eden Park and is a free, bookable space for any kind of gamer nationwide.

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Spark in partnership with Eden Park will be switching on 5G at New Zealand’s national stadium this Saturday, where thousands of fans are expected to attend Eden Park’s first ever concert – SIX60.

Eden Park will become the first 5G-connected stadium in Auckland, giving guests who have a 5G compatible phone access to super-fast speeds and outstanding reliability to share videos and photos of the long-anticipated event.

Spark’s Technology Director, Mark Beder says that this is an exciting extension to our partnership with Eden Park and that while the immediate benefit of 5G will be faster and more reliable connectivity compared to 4G, it’s only the start of how 5G will enhance the way New Zealanders watch their favourite sporting match or experience a world-class event.

“One of the key differences between 4G and 5G is its ability to enable mass connectivity, which will take us from a world of not just connecting people, but to a world of connecting almost anything.

“In the future, 5G will completely transform the way we experience live events. This could be anything from using virtual reality to provide fans with front-row concert experiences from their couch, improving in-person experiences with augmented reality, or reducing the time waiting in a queue for drinks and food with artificial intelligence self-service checkouts. The opportunities to improve customer experience and business efficiency are endless.”

At this stage, coverage extends over 75% of Eden Park with 5G available in the East and West Stand, the No.1 Field, the lower South Stand and part of the lower North Stand, with the view of expanding this further over the coming months.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says the initiative will further align the 118-year-old stadium with some of the world’s best venues.

“We are thrilled to work alongside Spark to enhance the experience at New Zealand’s national stadium with 5G for both fans at major events and functions throughout the year. Technology plays an integral role in delivering unforgettable events and we look forward to continuing to upgrade our fan experience through partnerships with brands like Spark,” says Sautner.

Fans who want to experience what 5G can offer at SIX60 this Saturday 24th April 2021 will need to have a 5G compatible mobile phone.

The post Spark 5G Live @ Eden Park in time for SIX60 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The series has always enjoyed TV coverage but the move to a fully online product will make it accessible to many more domestic fans and potentially a much wider international audience.

The new broadcasting deal encompasses live coverage of the forthcoming New Zealand Grand Prix meeting at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on January 22nd to the 24th 2021 and the Castrol Toyota Racing Series meeting at Manfeild over the February 12th to the 14th 2021 weekend.

The forthcoming Grand Prix meeting will be the largest and highest profile motorsport event in well over a year and will feature some huge names in Shane van Gisbergen, Greg Murphy, Daniel Gaunt, Chris van der Drift and André Heimgartner, as well as up and coming young Kiwi racers Matthew Payne, Billy Frazer, Josh Bethune and Kaleb Ngatoa in a field of 16 competitors.

“Although it’s a very different looking series this year, the forthcoming Grand Prix is a great way to start,” explained General Manager of Motorsport, Andrew Davis. “With Spark Sport already broadcasting F1, F2 and F3 live and on-demand it is a natural fit to add a top level domestic championship like the Castrol Toyota Racing Series to the portfolio.

“We’ve obviously seen eighteen of our drivers graduate to F1 in racing or testing roles and on the 2021 F1 grid we will see five of them, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Nicolas Latifi and the latest additions Nikita Mazepin and Yuki Tsunoda, who raced as recently as 2020 in New Zealand. That means 25% of the field are TRS graduates.

“We also have Liam Lawson and Marcus Armstrong in F2 and other drivers rising through the ranks, that’s a trend that will continue and one which the motorsport world is well aware of. TRS is an important series and although it is different this year with the COVID-19 factor, it is and will remain a perfect fit as motorsport broadcasting continues to evolve with new broadcasting and viewing technologies.”

With the TRS series going online, it represents an interesting new part of a relationship between Toyota New Zealand and Spark. The pair have formed a strong partnership around innovation trialling world leading 5G and IoT (Internet of Things) solutions to enhance the customer experience.

“We are excited to extend this relationship even further and can’t wait to start showing these innovations off to our customers as we bring mobility for all,” added Davis. “We will be offering a sneak peak at the Toyota Festival on the 30th of January at Hampton Downs.”

Viewers preferring the traditional free to air model to watch the Grand Prix will also be able to enjoy a highlights package on New Zealand’s TV3’s Sunday CRC Motorsport show.

2021 Castrol Toyota Racing Series

Round 1: Hampton Downs – 22nd to 24th January 2021 66th New Zealand Grand Prix
Round 2: Hampton Downs – 29th to 30th January 2021
Round 3: Manfeild – 12th to 14th February 2021

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The post Spark Sport ‘a perfect fit’ for Castrol TRS appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Spark has today announced that it has entered into an agreement for Sky Network Television Limited (Sky) to purchase its entertainment streaming business, Lightbox.  

Matt Bain, Marketing Director for Spark, explains, “Early in 2019, we started a process to identify a local or international media partner who could enhance Lightbox’s content proposition and support its growth, while bringing the best and broadest range of content to our customers.  

“In the last five years, there has been significant growth and evolution in the subscription video on demand (SVOD) market. Selling the Lightbox business to Sky ensures a sustainable future for Kiwi SVOD services, while giving us the ongoing ability to provide access to a high-quality TV and movie streaming service, which benefits from a significantly enhanced range of entertainment content from Sky.” 

Sophie Moloney, Sky’s Chief Legal, People and Partnerships Officer, says: “This deal enables Sky to merge Lightbox with our own entertainment streaming service Neon to create a supercharged SVOD service for New Zealanders.  The new enhanced service will combine the best features of Neon and Lightbox, and offer an outstanding range of entertainment content from New Zealand and around the world in a proudly kiwi way. 

“We’re excited at the possibilities the deal presents, and the opportunity to attract new customers to Sky and continue to grow our streaming services.  We’re delighted to be partnering with Spark to offer the enhanced service to Spark customers and look forward to revealing more details in 2020.” 

A conditional sale and purchase agreement has been signed and completion of the deal is anticipated in the next few months, subject to commercial, legal and regulatory approvals as required. 

There will be a transitional period following completion where Spark will continue to provide support for the Lightbox service, as the parties complete technical work to fully transition the platform to Sky.  

Spark customers who are currently using Lightbox will continue to receive Lightbox ‘on us’ as part of their eligible mobile and broadband plans both while the deal is concluded and through a transitionary period. Following the transition period, Spark will partner with Sky to make the combined entertainment streaming service available to Spark customers through its broader entertainment offers on mobile and broadband. 

Lightbox customers who are paying for the service directly will continue to be able to enjoy the same great content they do today, and once Lightbox becomes part of Sky’s new combined entertainment platform, customers will have access to an enhanced range of entertainment content. 

Over the past five years, Lightbox has become New Zealand’s leading local subscription-based entertainment streaming business. Lightbox has been a valuable part of Spark’s offer to mobile and broadband customers, while also attracting customers who purchased the streaming service directly.  

The post Spark NZ sells Lightbox to SkyTV NZ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Apple have finally released their wearable; Apple Watch with cellular capabilities.

New Zealand telco; Spark will be offering the Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular), featuring an Always-On display, breakthrough communication, fitness and health capabilities along with built-in cellular.
Apple Watch Series 5 debuts an Always-On Retina display that never sleeps, so it’s easy to see the time and other important information without raising or tapping the display. New location features, from a built-in compass to current elevation, help users better navigate their day. Apple Watch Series 5 with cellular allows customers to stay connected, make calls and receive texts, while international emergency calling allows customers to call emergency services directly from Apple Watch, even without their iPhone nearby. And with watchOS 6, Apple Watch users are empowered to take charge of their health and fitness with new features like Cycle Tracking, the Noise app and Activity Trends.

Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) can be paired with Spark’s new One Number Wearable Plan, giving Spark customers unlimited data and shared calls and texts (from an eligible primary plan). For a limited time, customers who purchase the plan will receive the first three months free.

“Kiwis have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Apple Watch with cellular connectivity in New Zealand and Spark is excited to be the first to bring the capability to market,” said Renee Mateparae, Spark’s Future of Connectivity Lead.

“Spark has been working hard to bring customers the benefits of Apple Watch Series 5 with cellular. The introduction of the Spark One Number Wearable Plan for Apple Watch will let customers stay connected with or without their iPhone nearby, giving Kiwis all the flexibility and freedom they’ve been waiting for.”

Currently on pre-order the Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) will become available in stores starting Friday 13th of December 2019.

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