I don't like iPhones, but I do like iPads and want to give the new watch with cellular a chance. Can I use it without having an iPhone to initialize it?
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Can I use the new Watch with an iPad?
- Thread starter macbook123
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The iPad does not have the Apple Watch application. You need an iPhone 5s or later to pair the Apple Watch and install it in order to move forward.
OK thanks. Do you think I will need to use the iPhone regularly or is it mostly an initial setup thing and occasional tweaks?
OK, but is that communication essential? How much would I miss not having my phone in my pocket (an Android phone instead)? I don't mind buying a used iPhone 6 and keeping it around to install apps, etc.
That plan would work. Just have the paired iPhone on and connected to your carrier or via Wi-Fi. Then you would get most of the features. Only missing feature would be the ability to connect to Wi-Fi networks from your Watch. It needs to load that information from the paired iPhone when both are connected via Bluetooth.
Dave
Dave
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For the cellular watch to work your iPhone needs to be on the same carrier and phone plan. If I understand right, you plan on buying a iPhone 6 and not having cell service on it and instead using an android phone.
You won’t be able to activate the cellular service on the watch unless the iPhone and watch are on the same plan. Even if you did manage to get it activated, you won’t receive SMS messages on watch if your iPhone has no cell service.
You won’t be able to activate the cellular service on the watch unless the iPhone and watch are on the same plan. Even if you did manage to get it activated, you won’t receive SMS messages on watch if your iPhone has no cell service.
No, no, no they only need to use the SIM from the Android phone to set up the iPhone. Then the iPhone will have service and the watch can be paired and NumberSync done. Once this is done they can switch the SIM back to the Android.
As I indicated above as lone as the iPhone is on the carrier network, the Watch will indeed get SMS/MMS messages. That function is tied to the shared phone number, which happens to be in an Android. The iPhone just needs to be connected to the carrier via Wi-Fi Calling.
Dave
As I indicated above as lone as the iPhone is on the carrier network, the Watch will indeed get SMS/MMS messages. That function is tied to the shared phone number, which happens to be in an Android. The iPhone just needs to be connected to the carrier via Wi-Fi Calling.
Dave
So how would one go about making sure an iPhone is connected to the carriers wifi calling if it doesn’t have a sim or on a phone plan?
I have an old iPhone that is paired with the watch because most of my friends communicate to read with me through text iMessage and call on the phone number that’s associated with the phone. I have to carry around with me an android for work. So far the watch has been useful in helping me not carry two phones around
It would have a SIM when setup and have Wi-Fi Calling setup. Once Wi-Fi calling is set up on the iPhone, you can remove the SIM and use Wi-Fi on the iPhone to connect. It is the same thing as just turning off Cellular on your iPhone and connecting to the Wi-Fi for messaging.
Dave
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1) standard SMS still gets passed through the iPhone — so they can come from the main phone number. The iphone does NOT need to be in proximity to the watch, but must be connected to the carrier's network.
2) you can’t get an iPhone to connect to WiFi calling on the carrier's network without the SIM card installed.
Correct. The LTE watch still passes its SMS texts through the Messages app on the connected iPhone. Turn off the iPhone and the texts stop.
OK, what about other messaging apps?
And are there other things apart form messaging apps that I can't do without the phone?
It's remarkable that FaceTime works without the phone (see the keynote) but messages doesn't.
I loved my couple of years with the Apple Watch, but have to say that your plan is going to be a very bad experience in my opinion. The Apple Watch is an extension of the iPhone, and without an iPhone in its daily life its not going to go well. True, the cellular AW you can use for brief periods without the mothership, but its not designed to be used standalone. Most of the apps I think are going to have problems. Also, the battery life on cellular drops to a couple hours. If you have an Android phone, you'd be much better off getting a watch that is designed to work with that platform. Personally, I just switched to the Gear S3 and am loving the experience. Pros and cons each way, but a comparably great watch.
A lot of the apps available require the corresponding iPhone app to be installed to actually do anything. And as a matter of fact, you can't even install apps without the phone.
And Facetime? I don't remember the keynote that clearly, but there's no Facetime on the watch.