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Apple Watch & Wifi Calling

M

mateytate

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 10, 2014
183
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So I noticed I don't receive any calls or SMS messages on my Apple Watch and I'm using Wifi Calling. I saw something somewhere that said you can't receive calls on the Watch if your using the Wifi calling?

Is this accurate? If so what the hells the point? The reason I got the iPhone is partly for wifi calling due to poor signal at home and work but then the basic functions of the watch don't work, seems crazy that it doesn't warn you or mention this anywhere.

I'll be returning my watch I think tomorrow. Quite disappointed if this is the case.
 
mateytate said:
So I noticed I don't receive any calls or SMS messages on my Apple Watch and I'm using Wifi Calling. I saw something somewhere that said you can't receive calls on the Watch if your using the Wifi calling?

Is this accurate? If so what the hells the point? The reason I got the iPhone is partly for wifi calling due to poor signal at home and work but then the basic functions of the watch don't work, seems crazy that it doesn't warn you or mention this anywhere.

I'll be returning my watch I think tomorrow. Quite disappointed if this is the case.
Click to expand...

probably b.c call forwarding does not work with wifi calling. This is also true with getting phone calls on your mac/ipad. Wifi calling has to be off.
 
This is true. For the same reason you can't answer phone calls on MacBooks or iPads if you use wifi calling. I'm pretty sure SMS messages work though, I get those on multiple devices.
 
That seems a big thing to not really make clear. A lot has been made of wifi calling but then you can not use the most basic feature of the Apple Watch - ie getting a notification of a call. I'll sleep on it but think it'll be going back.
 
I agree with you. But I figure I will hear my phone ringing since it has to be in the house with me and I can check in the phone app-recent calls to see who called if that's more convenient. Also, I have my voicemail forwarded to google voice so I get a text and email notification if someone leaves a voicemail.

And of course when I'm not at home, I'm not usually on wifi calling so the watch would ring.
 
I guess you're right - you've put a positive spin on it.

Is there a hardware reason why it disables call forwarding on Wifi Calling or is it possible that it's just a software thing they'll be able to overcome at some point? I haven't a clue but I know some people on here are very knowledgeable.
 
This stinks! Whole forum on Reddit about it. Really for those of us that want to use watch in places where cell coverage stinks, it really limits watch.

Missing the calls doesn't make sense. And if you dial out from watch on Wifi calling, it switches to awful cell coverage which is the reason I'm on wifi in the first place.

Encourage people to read this
http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/33rfyc/apple_watch_and_wifi_calling/

and post feedback request here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

Apple told me they are expecting it an upcoming software update.

And I'm realizing how silly this complaint all sounds. 5 years ago if you told me I'd be posting about problems calling from my watch, I'd laugh at you. Love the watch otherwise!
 
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hazeydavey said:
This stinks! Whole forum on Reddit about it. Really for those of us that want to use watch in places where cell coverage stinks, it really limits watch.

Missing the calls doesn't make sense. And if you dial out from watch on Wifi calling, it switches to awful cell coverage which is the reason I'm on wifi in the first place.

Encourage people to read this
http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/33rfyc/apple_watch_and_wifi_calling/

and post feedback request here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

Apple told me they are expecting it an upcoming software update.

And I'm realizing how silly this complaint all sounds. 5 years ago if you told me I'd be posting about problems calling from my watch, I'd laugh at you. Love the watch otherwise!
Click to expand...

Thank you for that. I've followed the link and filled out the feedback form. To me one of the major points of the watch is having notifications to your wrist so you can see who's calling before you get the phone out your pocket. To have that feature unavailable due to you having another basic feature like wifi calling active seems crazy.
 
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Does FaceTime audio work in the phone app on the watch? It's not working for me.
 
jabij1 said:
Does FaceTime audio work in the phone app on the watch? It's not working for me.
Click to expand...

Not yet.

----------
mateytate said:
Thank you for that. I've followed the link and filled out the feedback form. To me one of the major points of the watch is having notifications to your wrist so you can see who's calling before you get the phone out your pocket. To have that feature unavailable due to you having another basic feature like wifi calling active seems crazy.
Click to expand...

As I have pointed out, Wifi Calling has been known to be incompatible with Continuity. There's probably technical reasons for this, but if Apple haven't managed to make both function simultaneously since Continuity came out, then don't expect a fix any time soon.
 
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Glad I'm not alone here. I actually called AppleCare on 4/25 (got it on 4/24) thinking it was a minor launch bug. They opened a ticket, did a data capture and the engineers eventually echoed what's been said here. Wifi calling isn't supported at this time and the outgoing calls are made over the 4G/LTE radio with wifi calling turned on, which gave me the illusion of a bug rather than it being an intentionally unsupported feature.
This, to me, absolutely defeats one of the biggest use cases for the watch, which is liberation and convenience. I put in a feature request on the Apple site too, for what it's worth. I do hope Apple addresses this sooner rather than later.
Love my watch otherwise, despite this disappointing surprise.
 
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mateytate said:
So I noticed I don't receive any calls or SMS messages on my Apple Watch and I'm using Wifi Calling. I saw something somewhere that said you can't receive calls on the Watch if your using the Wifi calling?

Is this accurate? If so what the hells the point? The reason I got the iPhone is partly for wifi calling due to poor signal at home and work but then the basic functions of the watch don't work, seems crazy that it doesn't warn you or mention this anywhere.

I'll be returning my watch I think tomorrow. Quite disappointed if this is the case.
Click to expand...

What network are you on?
 
apple has had the watch for sometime so it seems strange FaceTime audio and wifi calling doesn't work as I'd have thought the high up execs would have wanted that as i'd bet they all use wifi calling when in the apple building.

seems a deliberate omission and maybe a gen 2 enticement to buy?
 
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Apple Watch & Wifi Calling

Zxxv said:
apple has had the watch for sometime so it seems strange FaceTime audio and wifi calling doesn't work as I'd have thought the high up execs would have wanted that as i'd bet they all use wifi calling when in the apple building.

seems a deliberate omission and maybe a gen 2 enticement to buy?
Click to expand...

The lack of wifi calling is not a watch issue. It's simply because of Continuity.

Wifi calling does not work with continuity since it came out as part of iOS 8, never has done, this is the case with Macs, iPads, why the surprise that the same applies to the watch?! If they haven't made wifi calling and continuity work in the last 11 months of people having access to iOS 8 and all the time prior to that when it was in development, it's probably not happening any time soon.

Maybe in iOS 9, if they crack the issue, which is obviously a technological issue. Also, wifi calling hasn't really taken off with the carriers. Only a couple in the U.S. And one in the UK. I suspect that Apple won't push for that unless carriers pick up more. More chance of FaceTime audio being sorted.

So that being said, why is it a gen 2 enticement? Either it's a software based technical issue, which case it means the Apple Watch, along with all the iPads and Macs will have it working. Or it's a hardware limitation, which means new iOS devices and Macs will have it and none prior will.

As for FaceTime audio, I have no clue. Maybe it's a bandwidth issue.
 
Last edited:
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shandyman said:
The lack of wifi calling is not a watch issue. It's simply because of Continuity.

Wifi calling does not work with continuity since it came out as part of iOS 8, never has done, this is the case with Macs, iPads, why the surprise that the same applies to the watch?! If they haven't made wifi calling and continuity work in the last 11 months of people having access to iOS 8 and all the time prior to that when it was in development, it's probably not happening any time soon.

Maybe in iOS 9, if they crack the issue, which is obviously a technological issue. Also, wifi calling hasn't really taken off with the carriers. Only a couple in the U.S. And one in the UK. I suspect that Apple won't push for that unless carriers pick up more. More chance of FaceTime audio being sorted.

So that being said, why is it a gen 2 enticement? Either it's a software based technical issue, which case it means the Apple Watch, along with all the iPads and Macs will have it working. Or it's a hardware limitation, which means new iOS devices and Macs will have it and none prior will.

As for FaceTime audio, I have no clue. Maybe it's a bandwidth issue.
Click to expand...

because thats how apple likes to sell "upgrades"
 
Apple Watch & Wifi Calling

Zxxv said:
you're very confrontational aren't you. And to think I removed you from my ignore list. I see it was pointless.
Click to expand...


Oh, I'm really upset about that..... Thanks for telling me....

You posted something and I questioned it. That's the nature of debate on forums. If you think that's confrontational, maybe you need to have a think about coming on forums...
 
Wow! There have been so many threads related to the VOIP stack in the watch (FaceTime audio and the walkie-talkie app are also absent).

The watch should eventually be able to take forwards of wifi calling from the phone (as it does with cellular), provided the carriers allow it.

That's the rub - the reason these 3 items are absent from the protocol stack in the watch is either political pressure from the carriers or they simply didn't have the time to make that fit the launch window and we'll see it in an upcoming update.

FaceTime audio has a lot of people perplexed, as it's on all of the other devices - but it has a common thread that it's part of the VOIP stack on the watch.

So, suck it up for now - the feature you want is likely coming soon.
 
fischersd said:
Wow! There have been so many threads related to the VOIP stack in the watch (FaceTime audio and the walkie-talkie app are also absent).

The watch should eventually be able to take forwards of wifi calling from the phone (as it does with cellular), provided the carriers allow it.

That's the rub - the reason these 3 items are absent from the protocol stack in the watch is either political pressure from the carriers or they simply didn't have the time to make that fit the launch window and we'll see it in an upcoming update.

FaceTime audio has a lot of people perplexed, as it's on all of the other devices - but it has a common thread that it's part of the VOIP stack on the watch.

So, suck it up for now - the feature you want is likely coming soon.
Click to expand...


The reason the Wifi Calling isn't on the watch is Continuity. Same as iPad and Mac. Until Continuity can handle being active when Wifi Calling is active, you'll see it on the Watch, the Mac and the iPad. Simple as that.

FaceTime Audio is the only odd one out.
 
shandyman said:
The reason the Wifi Calling isn't on the watch is Continuity. Same as iPad and Mac. Until Continuity can handle being active when Wifi Calling is active, you'll see it on the Watch, the Mac and the iPad. Simple as that.

FaceTime Audio is the only odd one out.
Click to expand...

The carriers likely didn't want that extended to Continuity. The Watch is an entirely different use case. It's an iPhone accessory. If anything, it will get wifi calling - the others may not (depends on what the carriers want).
 
fischersd said:
The carriers likely didn't want that extended to Continuity. The Watch is an entirely different use case. It's an iPhone accessory. If anything, it will get wifi calling - the others may not (depends on what the carriers want).
Click to expand...


No, it's a technical issue, not a carrier issue.

The watch is not a different use case. Continuity currently cannot function if wifi calling is enabled or vice versa. If/when the can have wifi calling and Continuity working in tandem, then you'll see it on the Watch, iPad and Mac.

The watch uses Continuity for messages, emails, calling, Eric.
 
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