We’ve been hearing for sometime now that the Apple Watch is coming this spring, after the Chinese New Year. Now, sources familiar with the matter have told 9To5 Mac that Apple is finishing work on the software and the device will ship to the United States by March-end.

The report also states that Apple is ‘planning an extensive testing program’ for its Apple Retail Store employees. This training will help Apple employees get acquainted with its latest product.

In fact, a few representatives from Apple Stores in the United States will be sent to the company’s offices in either Cupertino, California or Austin, Texas to learn about the smartwatch. The training programs are expected to take place between February 9 and 16, adds the report. These employees will then train other employees in their respective stores, just when the devices are ready to hit store shelves.

Currently, Apple is believed to be polishing the OS and testing the battery of the device. The smartwatch was announced in September, but the company didn’t reveal much about its availability, except that it would come in ‘early Spring’. Later, Apple retail chief, Angela Ahrendts,was more specific and revealed the Watch will come only after the Chinese New Year. She had also disclosed how Apple had started planning marketing strategies and all retail employees would be trained to help customers try out the new watch and its features.

The Apple Watch sports a squarish design instead of a circular one popularised by Motorola’s Moto 360. The Watch is crafted from custom alloys of polished or space black stainless steel (Apple Watch), space gray or silver anodized aluminum (Apple Watch Sport) and 18-karat rose or yellow gold (Apple Watch Edition). Going by the demo during its launch keynote, the Watch can do a lot of stuff. Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch.

(Tech2)