I finally found where, on verizon and in the watch app, I could confirm it was on wifi calling. It has no ability (as far as I could see) to turn it on or off for the watch - but as it was driving me nuts - I am at least glad I found something about it.
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How does Apple Watch 3 lte really works?
- Thread starter ANTAWNM26
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Watch app - Cellular plan - Press the little i in a circle - a box pops up that says manage verizon account - and it takes you to verizon - mine says your device is on your account . Wifi Calling is on - your 911 address is XXX
Sorry to interrupt you.
I use apple watch 3 LTE model in Japan.
There are 3 major carriers, docomo, au, softbank, in Japan. I'm on au.
I have problems on apple watch that impossible to use SMS/MMS by only using apple watch (iphone is turned on).
Instead of this, I solved the problem that not to use "iMessage" by below site.
http://www.smartwatchart.com/2017/0...messages-on-apple-watch-3-lte.html#comment-30
But, I cannot use SMS/MMS by apple watch only.
au is announcing "you use SMS by apple watch only".
But this carrier company doesn't announce about MMS.
Now I am talking about this problem with Japanese Apple support center now, but we could not have got useful information on this problem.
I want use MMS by apple watch only.
DO you have any good ideas?
(In Japan, wi-fi calling system does not introduce to iphone system)
I use apple watch 3 LTE model in Japan.
There are 3 major carriers, docomo, au, softbank, in Japan. I'm on au.
I have problems on apple watch that impossible to use SMS/MMS by only using apple watch (iphone is turned on).
Instead of this, I solved the problem that not to use "iMessage" by below site.
http://www.smartwatchart.com/2017/0...messages-on-apple-watch-3-lte.html#comment-30
But, I cannot use SMS/MMS by apple watch only.
au is announcing "you use SMS by apple watch only".
But this carrier company doesn't announce about MMS.
Now I am talking about this problem with Japanese Apple support center now, but we could not have got useful information on this problem.
I want use MMS by apple watch only.
DO you have any good ideas?
(In Japan, wi-fi calling system does not introduce to iphone system)
That’s not been my experience. I have 2 series 3 watches connected to my Verizon account. I swap them as needed when Battery is low and noticed that both watches receive incoming calls, i.e. they both simultaneously ring when an incoming call is received, both the one on my wrist and the one in the charging stand.
That kind of pissed me off, as I thought the auto switch function, which is enabled in setting would activate only the Watch being worn. I called Apple support and they confirmed that because the Watch has an independent cellular signal it will ring regardless. Now I hope I got an idiot on the phone and this obvious blatant oversight on the part of Apple is fake news. But until I get home to test this further that has been my experience so far.....
FYI: SMS is a Voice service not a Data/LTE service.
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well....a Sprint Customer here and YES my iPhone needs to be on and connected to voice services to send SMSs from my LTE Apple Watch. Sadly, Sprint has not deployed VoLTE yet but you need WiFi Calling on to use/get LTE on Apple Watch.
Yup. SMS messaging predates most common cellular data protocols. I don’t remember the details, but essentially SMS messages are sent in what had been an empty part of the handshake signal with the tower.
You don’t need WiFi calling on to use LTE on the Watch nor do you need your phone on. I never use WiFi calling, never even set it up. I’m able to send txt messages and receive calls with no issues.
well the WIFI calling might be a Sprint thing...BUT the SMS issue has been widely reported. I had tested it myself by powering down my iPhone at my health club and attempted to send a SMS (green bubble) it failed. I then went to my locker and powered up the phone and placed it back in my locker (had a signal) and retried it on my watch and the SMS went through.
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/apple-watch-series-3-texts-not-working-heres-whats-going-on/
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Sorry, WiFi calling on Sprint doesn't need to be enabled to receive or make calls on the Watch either. Sounds like you're having the issue with the LTE not being able to connect. Your Watch is trying to connect to a WiFi connection that has a cert acceptance therefore it won't receive anything and won't connect to LTE either. This is a known issue and Apple is aware of the problem. There is a planned fix incoming to resolve this.
Interesting,
So the Sprint rep had misinformed me on the WIFI calling...it was very confusing on the first day. I did have Google Voice Integration and that could have been it.
In most cases, you know more than the carrier support reps you talk to. Google Voice, may have something to do with your problem as that is not carrier handling/related. But my guess from your description, is your Watch is stuck trying to connect to open WiFi that has an acceptance cookie. Because you have connected to this WiFi source on your phone before. The thing to try is to have your phone forget those type of WiFi sources until Apple releases the fix.
Great discussion.
The majority of the time, usually always, my phone is on and connected.
With wireless charging stands in key locations I can’t see not being charged.
Actually I’m not really sure why I bought the LTE version at all.
Every time I get a text or phone call I groan and think who the f is bothering me now.
The majority of the time, usually always, my phone is on and connected.
With wireless charging stands in key locations I can’t see not being charged.
Actually I’m not really sure why I bought the LTE version at all.
Every time I get a text or phone call I groan and think who the f is bothering me now.
If your at home with the tv on the speaker during a call works well. If your at the mall you have to put your wrist up to your chest or higher to carry a conversation. It works well for what it is. I’m surprised at how well it works on LTE.
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Dave, I choose not to use WiFi calling on my iPhone 8. I’m on T-mobile. Will my AW3 LTE still connect to WiFi? I turned off my phone and my watch connects to LTE not WiFi. I’m assuming that I must have WiFi calling enabled for it to connect to WiFi.
If you're using the Apple Watch and your iPhone is on somewhere far away, connected via Wi-Fi or LTE:
Everything should feel similar to how the Apple Watch already worked before over Wi-Fi when your phone isn't directly paired via Bluetooth. Much like Google's Android Wear watches, the Apple Watch works remotely.
- Phone calls: YES.
- iMessages: YES.
- SMS text messages: YES. The iPhone helps complete the text message bridging, wherever it is.
- App notifications: YES. Apple needs your iPhone to send those third-party notifications up to the cloud using it as a bridge, when connected.
- Actual apps: Depends on whether they're set to work away from your iPhone or not. Some didn't load, such as Slack.
I'd say that this video shows the watch may be useless if you were planning to use it with your phone turned off. Many people, myself included, do/would use it while leaving our phones on, but in a different location. In that case, the watch is much more useful than the video implies.
Yeah I think that if people are expecting their Apple Watch to work like there iPhone BUT they want to turn off their iPhone then they need to remember the watch is only $10.00 if you want to keep your iPhone turned off then the monthly price to run your Apple Watch fully like an iPhone you would be looking at a full data plan solely for the watch.
The watch, as far as I understand it, is only available as an add on to a phone plan. You can’t buy a full data plan solely for the watch.
Totally agree with this post. That video is useful from the sense it shows what doesn't work when the watch is standalone. Everyone needs to realize this is early. In a few months, watch apps will take advantage of working standalone. Except things that are carrier related (like SMS).
So we should see mail apps that work standalone. Hopefully Apple is working on that right now. If not, I'm sure 3rd party apps will.
Just got my watch working with EE in the UK.
My experience is as follows:
Phone on, watch routes everything via phone to watch. I know this as it shows as connecting for a moment.
Phone off, watch WiFi on. It simply uses WiFi calling, messages work as expected for messages and calls.
Phone off, watch WiFi off, it works as expected for messages and calls.
I have noted that it’s ability to get signal is worse than a phone as expected.
It does annoy me though that when you’re on WiFi you loose the phone signal icons. It’s only when you’re totally off WiFi and the phone do you get icons.
My experience is as follows:
Phone on, watch routes everything via phone to watch. I know this as it shows as connecting for a moment.
Phone off, watch WiFi on. It simply uses WiFi calling, messages work as expected for messages and calls.
Phone off, watch WiFi off, it works as expected for messages and calls.
I have noted that it’s ability to get signal is worse than a phone as expected.
It does annoy me though that when you’re on WiFi you loose the phone signal icons. It’s only when you’re totally off WiFi and the phone do you get icons.
I see your point, I guess it’s a case of liking to know stuff as a just in case thing. The main attraction for me with the AW3 is that I can just go out for a run and leave my phone behind. But it would be good to know the signal status prior to this in a more confident fashion.