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appleguy123

macrumors 604
Original poster
Apr 1, 2009
6,873
2,589
15 minutes in the future
If you are on a cellular plan without tethering, can you still use data on your Apple watch when you aren't connected to wifi?

Because the way the watch works seems to be something like personal hotspot tethering. Does anyone know if the carriers are going to allow this on non-tethering plans, like my grandfathered unlimited plan from AT&T?
 
If you are on a cellular plan without tethering, can you still use data on your Apple watch when you aren't connected to wifi?

Because the way the watch works seems to be something like personal hotspot tethering. Does anyone know if the carriers are going to allow this on non-tethering plans, like my grandfathered unlimited plan from AT&T?

Yes it will work. Essentially the Watch is telling the iPhone which network calls to make on its behalf, and the iPhone sends the returned data to the Watch over Bluetooth/P2P WiFi.

Nothing carriers can do about this :)
 
If you're using apps that pull data from the Internet, I don't see how that's different from tethering.

Like Siri, or CNN, or sports scores.

All gonna be funneled threw the iPhone. Don't think you are going to have a problem.

I am in the same boat.
 
The watch is just like any other Bluetooth device connected to the phone. Paired devices are not the same as tethered devices.
 
If you're using apps that pull data from the Internet, I don't see how that's different from tethering.

Like Siri, or CNN, or sports scores.


Your phone is pulling data from the Internet, not your watch. Your phone is simply sending this across to your watch via wifi / Bluetooth. Nothing to do with tethering.
 
Think of it just like connecting you phone your car audio and making a hands free call
 
If you're using apps that pull data from the Internet, I don't see how that's different from tethering.

Like Siri, or CNN, or sports scores.

It is, the apps are running on the phone, and mirroring the info to the watch over BT and wifi.
 
If you're using apps that pull data from the Internet, I don't see how that's different from tethering.

Like Siri, or CNN, or sports scores.

The only reason carriers currently have a say about tethering is because Apple agreed to let them. If Apple wanted to, they could enable tethering for everyone and the networks couldn't do anything to stop them (anything technical, that is).
 
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