Between January and October 2023, Moscow and the surrounding region saw 533 thousand smart watches sold, generating 7 billion rubles in revenue. This marks a 36% rise in unit sales and a 16% increase in revenue compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data analyzed by the press service of the MTS company. The analysis focused on the growing interest of residents in the capital region in the One Number service, which enables autonomous use of smart watches without being tethered to smartphones.
MTS notes that demand for the One Number service—an option that links any smartphone with an MTS SIM card to a smartwatch with eSIM on Android, using a single subscriber number—tracks the upward trend in smartwatch sales in the capital region. The connection between device adoption and service usage highlights how consumers are increasingly seeking seamless, smartphone-independent connectivity from wearable devices.
In its first month of operation, the service’s uptake showed that 69% of One Number connections in Moscow and the surrounding area came from Huawei watches, while Samsung models accounted for 31% of connections. This breakdown underscores strong brand preferences among regional users and hints at the evolving competitive landscape in wearable ecosystems.
Additionally, MTS reminded that the One Number service was launched for residents of Moscow and the region at the end of October. With the wearable-enabled voice services, users can operate voice calls using their existing mobile number even when the smartphone is not nearby. In such scenarios, range becomes irrelevant because the smartwatch itself functions as a standalone phone, offering convenience for those who are frequently mobile or away from their primary device.
The company also indicated plans to expand the One Number service to other regions of Russia in 2024, signaling a broader rollout strategy driven by observed consumer demand for wearable connectivity and independent calling capabilities. This expansion would potentially bring similar growth in device sales and service adoption beyond the capital area, aligning with trends in metropolitan and regional markets alike (Source: MTS press service).