The electrocardiogram feature used in the Apple Watch to monitor heart health has received local regulatory approval in Japan, meaning its release in the country is imminent.
The Cupertino company has been slow to roll out the ECG feature on the Apple Watch as it must be approved locally before it can be sold. The Apple Watch uses electrodes which record the electrical pulses of a user’s heartbeat.
The feature arrived first in the United States two years ago with the Apple Watch Series 4, and now the company is rolling out the technology in other markets.
A report from iPhone Mania suggests that Apple’s ECG app on watchOS was approved by Japanese health regulators on September 4 under “Home ECG program” and “Home heart rate monitor program” certificates – the company only applied for approval via Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in June, demonstrating its slow roll-out.
Although Apple now has approval to market ECG technology in Japan, there’s no exact date on when the feature will be made available. Apple could save the release for watchOS 7, which is expected to arrive in October, or a supplementary point-release could come sooner.
Earlier in the year, Apple received approval for its ECG support in South Korea and Brazil.
Are you excited to try out the feature? Let us know and check back soon for more news.
