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I am currently in the process of setting up a second Apple Watch 3 LTE to my phone (No, I don't really need 2 apple watches, I just need to test the battery life different between 38mm and 42mm).
So far I am having now trouble, but I think this can also test how the LTE works, will both watches ring at the same time? since they can now connect to data independently without connect to phone?
You're probably one of the first to try this. The way number share works on Verizon it should ring through everything that is sharing the same number (I'm even able to answer and make multiple phone calls on all the devices being shared simultaneously)
 
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OK, just to clarify that when you do this: go to the Watch App on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Phone, then turn Wi-Fi Calling On/Off. You don't see Wi-Fi Calling?

The watch will not appear in the list since the management of Wi-Fi Calling is now in the My Watch app.

Dave
On the phone itself - in the top left corner - it has "vzw wifi" next to the wifi symbol and lte bars.
If I go to the watch app -then to the watch 3 - then to phone - there is no option or anything at all about wifi calling. there is only this:

Mirror my phone
Custom
Ringtone

show voice mail alerts

Sound
Haptic

When I check my apple watch v1 in the same way - it does have the wifi calling option in the watch app right after ringtone in the middle of the screen
 
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On the phone itself - in the top left corner - it has "vzw wifi" next to the wifi symbol and lte bars.
If I go to the watch app -then to the watch 3 - then to phone - there is no option or anything at all about wifi calling. there is only this:

Mirror my phone
Custom
Ringtone
Sound
Haptic

When I check my apple watch v1 in the same way - it does have the wifi calling option in the watch app
Same, there is no option for wi-fi calling there. I don't believe the option is there any more as they removed those steps from the Apple support page after watchOS 4 came out.
 
I am currently in the process of setting up a second Apple Watch 3 LTE to my phone (No, I don't really need 2 apple watches, I just need to test the battery life different between 38mm and 42mm).
So far I am having now trouble, but I think this can also test how the LTE works, will both watches ring at the same time? since they can now connect to data independently without connect to phone?
No only the 1 currently active Watch will ring. While you can pair up to 3 watches to your iPhone, only 1 can be active at any given time. For your testing you will have to do it one at a time. They can't both be active at the same time.

Active Watch means the one that is on your wrist. You can manage the behavior that determines which watch is Active by selecting the 1 you want to be Active manually: open the Apple Watch app on iPhone, tap My Watch, tap your Apple Watch at the top of the screen, then turn off Auto Switch and pick your watch or you have have Automatic switch active(default) just raise your wrist to make it Active.

Dave
 
But it is odd it shows up for my v1 watch - which I have also updated to os4.

Another odd thing is - the wifi calling on phone is on -but it comes and goes on the top left hand of phone - like it is not always working.
But I also have a note 8 and wifi calling is always shown as being on - so I don't think it is my network keeping it from working
 
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That’s what I’m leaning towards the all or nothing. Geez we having to get people to do this and that to really know exactly what the watch does. But anyway still on the fence with though. Well do you think Apple will iron the connectivity issue with software and not hardware
Actually it is quite simple once you understand the basics of NumberSync.

In my view the only odd part is the SMS/MMS text messaging requires that your synced smartphone must be powered on so SMS/MMS messages may be forwarded to your watch. iMessage must be enabled and your smartphone must be connected to the AT&T network via either a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. If using a Wi-Fi connection, your smartphone must have Wi-Fi calling activated.

Not sure what connectivity issue you are referencing. If it is the Wi-Fi on the watch connecting to Unknown Wi-Fi without any internet connectivity instead of LTE?

Clearly a software issue related to the power management on the watch: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and only as a last hope LTE. They really don't want to use LTE due to it's larger power draw from the Battery.

Dave
 
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No only the 1 currently active Watch will ring. While you can pair up to 3 watches to your iPhone, only 1 can be active at any given time. For your testing you will have to do it one at a time. They can't both be active at the same time.

Active Watch means the one that is on your wrist. You can manage the behavior that determines which watch is Active by selecting the 1 you want to be Active manually: open the Apple Watch app on iPhone, tap My Watch, tap your Apple Watch at the top of the screen, then turn off Auto Switch and pick your watch or you have have Automatic switch active(default) just raise your wrist to make it Active.

Dave
Thanks Dave,

I setup both now, like you said, have to choose one to be active from the watch app.

I was thinking, if under the condition that both bluetooth and wifi are off, both watches are under different LTE plan that ties to my main number. How will they behave? Because in theory they can independently connect to data.
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You're probably one of the first to try this. The way number share works on Verizon it should ring through everything that is sharing the same number (I'm even able to answer and make multiple phone calls on all the devices being shared simultaneously)
That is very interesting, I am on T-Mobile, I guess I will find out. The main purpose was to test the battery life, but now I really do want to find out how the devices all connect.
 
But it is odd it shows up for my v1 watch - which I have also updated to os4.

Another odd thing is - the wifi calling on phone is on -but it comes and goes on the top left hand of phone - like it is not always working.
But I also have a note 8 and wifi calling is always shown as being on - so I don't think it is my network keeping it from working
Well that' s where it should be for you Series 3. So the obvious question is were you in the Beta program?

Dave
 
OK then on your Apple Watch, Wi-Fi Calling turns on when Calls on Other Devices is enabled.

No it is not an AT&T thing. This is how Apple designed their Ecosystem and Continuity. In the case of the USA, all 4 carriers have the same restrictions / features.

If you can find an exception for a specific carrier, please share.

Dave

EE says only receiving texts not sending them. Not quite an exception but a difference.

“If your phone is switched off or has no coverage you’ll still be able to access 4G and make and receive calls with your Apple Watch but you won’t be able to receive texts, (although you will be able to send them.)”
 
EE says only receiving texts not sending them. Not quite an exception but a difference.

“If your phone is switched off or has no coverage you’ll still be able to access 4G and make and receive calls with your Apple Watch but you won’t be able to receive texts, (although you will be able to send them.)”
No difference. Same restriction / behavior as all 4 USA Carriers matching your EE update.

This how Apple says it works for SMS/MMS: To receive SMS or MMS on your Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular), your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but it doesn't need to be nearby. Apple leaves out some of the per-reqs in the detail. See the full description as indicated by AT&T.

AT&T is more detailed: SMS/MMS text messaging requires that your synced smartphone must be powered on so SMS/MMS messages may be forwarded to your watch. iMessage must be enabled and your smartphone must be connected to the AT&T network via either a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. If using a Wi-Fi connection, your smartphone must have Wi-Fi calling activated.

Dave
 
Yes - wifi calling is on and all my other devices show up - including my apple watch 1 - just not the 3.
Just tried unpairing and repairing - and still do not get the choice on watch app under phone or in the list of devices to choose on iphone settings.


My Apple Watch 3 does not show up in the list of wifi calling devices on the phone, but I was still able to make a wifi call using the Apple watch 3.
 
My Apple Watch 3 does not show up in the list of wifi calling devices on the phone, but I was still able to make a wifi call using the Apple watch 3.
I was just on with verizon people for an hour and a half - they are clueless.
Do you get the option to turn on wifi calling in the watch app/phone part? It shows up in watch app for my apple watch 1 on os 4 but it does not show up in the watch app for watch 3
 
I was just on with verizon people for an hour and a half - they are clueless.
Do you get the option to turn on wifi calling in the watch app/phone part? It shows up in watch app for my apple watch 1 on os 4 but it does not show up in the watch app for watch 3

I do not get that option on the watch only on the phone. One thing I have learned is the watch will only connect to 2.4ghz WiFi. At home I have 5ghz so went to my neighbors house and connected to his WiFi with my phone, he has 2.4ghz. I turned off Bluetooth on phone and the watch disconnected from phone. I checked the connection on my watch in control center. I saw the WiFi icon above the cellular toggle which was white. I then made a phone call from the watch.
 
The thing is I can get Wi-Fi calling on the watch or at least the Wi-Fi symbol shows up even if I have Wi-Fi calling turned off on the phone. So I'm still at a loss for understanding why having Wi-Fi calling turned on for the phone helps the watch version 3. I just tried experiment with another phone and put my Sim card in it and had the same results of having the option for Wi-Fi calling turning on if I paired Apple Watch one but the option did not show up for Apple Watch three
 
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The thing is I can get Wi-Fi calling on the watch or at least the Wi-Fi symbol shows up even if I have Wi-Fi calling turned off on the phone. So I'm still at a loss for understanding why having Wi-Fi calling turned on for the phone helps the watch version 3. I just tried experiment with another phone and put my Sim card in it and had the same results of the option for Wi-Fi calling turning on if I paired Apple Watch one but not for Apple Watch three

Yes all of this is a little baffling. From what I understand if the watch makes callls on WiFi it uses less battery so I don’t really care how it works as long as it works.
 
I was just on with verizon people for an hour and a half - they are clueless.
Do you get the option to turn on wifi calling in the watch app/phone part? It shows up in watch app for my apple watch 1 on os 4 but it does not show up in the watch app for watch 3
If you want an explanation, you will have to go to Apple. It is not a Carrier issue. The only thing that I can confirm is that Apple says that Wi-Fi calling needs to be and if you turn on Wi-Fi Calling from Other Devices then your Watch will turn on Wi-Fi Calling.

Dave
 
I have it on for the phone -but absolutely no way of telling if it is working for the watch or not. The watch is doing the exact same thing it was doing before I turned it on. The little blue wifi signal on watch turns on just like it did before I enabled wifi calling on the phone.
 
But it is odd it shows up for my v1 watch - which I have also updated to os4.

Another odd thing is - the wifi calling on phone is on -but it comes and goes on the top left hand of phone - like it is not always working.
But I also have a note 8 and wifi calling is always shown as being on - so I don't think it is my network keeping it from working

Wifi calling only shows on the phone when your cellular signal is weak.....
 
Huh? I’m confused....

I’m on Verizon. If I get the LTE version of the Apple Watch can I receive SMS texts when I’m away from my iPhone and does my iPhone have to be powered on somewhere for my watch to receive messages?


If you leave your iPhone on and connected to a network, your watch can do anything. If it's off or doesn't have a data connection you cannot receive SMS text but you can send SMS text, and you can send and receive iMessages.
 
Bottom line leave your iPhone on!
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If you leave your iPhone on and connected to a network, your watch can do anything. If it's off or doesn't have a data connection you cannot receive SMS text but you can send SMS text, and you can send and receive iMessages.
Thanks!
 
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