Apple Inc. It is considering removing the blood oxygen sensor from its latest smartwatches – the Series 9 and Ultra 2 – to get a US ban on the devices if an appeal against the decision fails. Apple is pursuing a bid to overturn a US ruling that blocked use of its technology.
According to reports, the US Customs and Border Protection has approved the potential redesign of Apple Smartwatches Series 9, and Ultra 2 sans that blood-oxygen sensor.
According to reports, US Customs and Border Protection has approved a potential redesign of the Apple smartwatch Series 9 and Ultra 2 to eliminate the blood-oxygen sensor.
Analysts have speculated that the removal of the blood oxygen sensor could come through a software update.
The dispute arose after Massimo Corp., a Southern California company, filed a patent claim against Apple.
The US Customs and Border Protection “decided that Apple’s redesign falls outside the scope” of an import ban by the US International Trade Commission, signaling that the adjustment will let Apple keep its watches on the market, reports Bloomberg.
The appeals process will likely take at least a year to unfold, meaning Apple will need an extended position to continue selling watches with blood-oxygen sensors as part of efforts to position the products as health-monitoring devices, said the AP.
Massimo won a favorable ruling from the US International Trade Commission in late October that prompted Apple to temporarily halt sales of Apple Watch models with blood-oxygen sensors just before Christmas. But Apple then filed an appeal of the ITC ruling, which cleared the way for two Apple Watch models to return to stores shortly after Christmas while the appeal was under review.
The iPhone maker has developed a software solution intended to circumvent the dispute and presented the solution last week to the customs agency, which is in charge of enforcing the import ban. Apple explained that the redesigned watches “definitely” don’t have the problematic technology, known as pulse oximetry, according to Massimo.
The appeals process will likely take at least a year to unfold, meaning Apple will need an extended position to continue selling watches with blood-oxygen sensors as part of the company’s efforts to position the products as health-monitoring devices.
Until then, the Apple Watch blood-oxygen feature will remain available on newly sold units, the Cupertino, California-based company said.
