Customers in Austria, Belgium and four other European countries can now use Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite feature as long as they've updated to iOS 16.4.
Belgium
Emergency SOS via satellite is expanding to six more countries
In the latest service expansion, the number of countries where Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite feature is officially supported has grown to twelve.
Revamped Apple Maps experience hits the Netherlands, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland
Revamped Apple Maps with Look Around, 3D landmarks and other perks have hit the Netherlands, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
HomePod mini is now available in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium
Apple's Siri-powered HomePod mini smart speaker with HomeKit is now available to purchase in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium, in all colors.
Apple Maps rolling out speed camera alerts in the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries
Apple Maps customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and other countries have now begun reporting seeing a yellow icon on their iPhone or CarPlay while navigating in case there's a fixed speed camera with its flash operational along their route.
Cellular Apple Watch models launching in Belgium on Friday for the first time
Apple Watch models with cellular connectivity will soon hit Belgium, an 11.5 million people market in Europe, for the first time since the wearable gained LTE connectivity three years ago.
Apple Pay goes live in Belgium
Apple on Wednesday launched its mobile payments service Apple Pay in Belgium. Customers in this country can now add their MasterCard or Maestro debit or credit cards to the Wallet app on their device in order to use it to pay for goods and services in stores, online and in apps via an iPhone, Apple Watch or Mac.
Apple Maps lane guidance expands to New Zealand, Belgium, Netherlands & Sweden
Lane guidance, a new Apple Maps feature in iOS 11 for iPhone, iPad and CarPlay, has expanded to four additional countries following its debut in iOS 11 last fall and subsequent expansion in November 2017 to countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK.
iTunes carrier billing now available to customers in Norway and Belgium
Following a recent introduction of iTunes carrier billing in Japan, Taiwan and Switzerland, this useful feature is now available to customers in Norway and Belgium, as first noted by MacRumors on Tuesday.
With carrier billing, customers can buy media on the iTunes Store, subscribe to Apple Music and purchase apps on the App Store without a credit or debit card because purchases are added to a customer’s mobile phone bill from their carrier.
iPhone 6s in-store reservations open in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland & Netherlands
As Apple gears up to launch the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in an additional 40 countries this coming Friday, October 9, in-store reservations for the new handsets have gone live through Apple's Reserve and Pickup program in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands, MacRumors reported this morning.
These six European countries are part of Apple's second wave of iPhone 6s launch. Apple has said that the new iPhones will be available in a total of over 130 countries by the end of the year.
First Apple Store in Belgium opening in Brussels on Saturday, September 19
I'm based out of Europe and it's always been a mystery to me as to why Apple lacks official retail presence in Belgium. Well, the company is finally opening its first brick-and-mortar store in the twelve million people market.
The forthcoming store will be located in Brussels, the largest city and capital of Belgium, the de facto capital of the European Union and headquarters for NATO, and is scheduled to open doors to customers on Sunday, September 19.
Belgian judge threatened to block Apple websites over EU warranty shenanigans
For quite some time now, Apple has been at odds with EU watchdogs who've been complaining a lot about the iPhone maker's unacceptable stance and practices when it comes to educating EU buyers on their consumer rights.
At the heart of the issue: Apple's unwillingness to explain to its users in an unambiguous manner that EU consumer laws entitle them to at least two years of coverage on consumer electronics.
As Apple's standard warranty provides twelve months of coverage, the company was caught cunningly beating around the bush by attempting to upsell buyers to its pricey AppleCare+ extended protection plan, which it introduced last September in the United Kingdom, Italy, France and elsewhere in Europe.
Apple was even fined over this in Italy and now comes word that a Belgium judge has contemplated blocking access to all Apple websites in the country because the company has continued to mislead consumers about warranty protections available for products purchased from its brick-and-mortar and online stores...