Two-Month Wait Time For Apple Watch? Not If You're A Developer

Many of Apple’s customers and even its employees may have to wait as long as two months to get the Apple Watch on their wrists. But now the company is offering its developers an opportunity to skip the line.

Apple Inc. sent out emails to iOS developers on Tuesday offering them an opportunity to get an Apple Watch to physically test their apps on, according to MacRumors. Similar to how it handled ticket sales for its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple will run developer purchases by random selection.

To participate, developers who received the email will have to register through Apple’s website by Thursday. If chosen, they will then be able to purchase a 42mm Apple Watch Sport with a blue sport band for a guaranteed April 28 shipping date -- four days after the first customers start receiving their orders.

Third-party developers previously have been able to build and test their Apple Watch apps through a simulator that comes with the WatchKit SDK (software development kit) or in controlled testing environments set up by Apple. But getting earlier access to a physical Apple Watch will let them test their apps in a broader range of scenarios and environments.

While some developers will have the chance to skip the virtual line for an Apple Watch, many of Apple’s customers already have begun getting shipping notifications for the watch, which launches on Friday. Those who didn’t make the first wave of shipments may get their orders in the coming weeks, and in the meantime, Apple is expected to handle Apple Watch purchases entirely online.