Technically how is ECG blocked by country?

[patent10021]

Some people are saying it's serial number geo-fenced. Some people are saying it just needs a software update once the watch is approved in that country.

If it is a hardware block, how is that block removed when the watch is approved? Is it the ECG app that recognizes that the SN is black listed?

It seems that a developer that has root must be able to bypass it somehow no?

 

[ISKOTB]

I have the MTVU2AE/A model GPS/Cell. I believe the ECG function is in included in all AW4/5 but Apple unlocks per a region. My wife has an AW4/40mm GPS from the US and her ECG has been working from day one and we both reside outside the US!?

 

[patent10021]

Yes, I realize that. Watches that have it enabled can use ECG anywhere. Everyone knows this.

 

[Strangedream]

The Health app on your phone simply doesn't have the option to set up ECG. That's what happened to me and the most infuriating part is that ECG is not blocked in my country but because my phone is from a restored backup that was on a beta iOS I'm SOL unless I reset and reinstall everything manually again.

 

[ISKOTB]

Did you mean some watches have it and others don't?
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I rest the phone/watch once before and ECG did not show up in the app/watch. I now on AWOS6 and still no dice

The Health app on your phone simply doesn't have the option to set up ECG. That's what happened to me and the most infuriating part is that ECG is not blocked in my country but because my phone is from a restored backup that was on a beta iOS I'm SOL unless I reset and reinstall everything manually again.

 

[Strangedream]

Did you mean some watches have it and others don't?
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I rest the phone/watch once before and ECG did not show up in the app/watch. I now on AWOS6 and still no dice

Hmm interesting, where did you buy your handset?

 

[ISKOTB]

Phone and watch from Dubai/UAE

Hmm interesting, where did you buy your handset?

 

[Strangedream]

Phone and watch from Dubai/UAE

UAE doesn't appear to be in the list of ECG supported locations - https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/#branded-ecg

Maybe this also confirms the ECG availability does not only depend on the watch but also where you bought your phone.

 

[ISKOTB]

no, I tied my wife apple watch on my iPhone X in UAE and it worked without any issues. The link you posted above confirms my point ECG is in the watch but isn't available for all AW models yet.
when we were home "US" a couple of months ago I reset my watch but still no ECG

-I have seen this before about US regions for the phone/watch. My iphone/watch Wife iphone/watch are both set to the US region since the day we bought them phones so this isn't a factor to have the ECG or not.

UAE doesn't appear to be in the list of ECG supported locations - https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/#branded-ecg

Maybe this also confirms the ECG availability does not only depend on the watch but also where you bought your phone.

 

[iZac]

I assumed (without any evidence, just blind assumption) that it was locked by what region your Apple ID is set up to? I wonder if that changes anything?

I'll find out soon enough when I use a UK region account on a mainland Chinese phone and watch hardware in a couple of weeks.

 

[patent10021]

The ECG exists on all watches. Once the country approves the watch the ECG can be used. The question is how is it enabled?

The ECG function is blocked by serial number geo-fencing but I'm not sure exactly how it's done. Whether the app has a blacklist of SNs or whatever ....

I am sure a dev who can get root can enable it.

 

[itsmilo]

I figured it’s regional blocked by either the OS or your Apple ID?

my iPad Pro from Dubai for example only has FaceTime when I set the region to „Egypt“. Otherwise the App and all mentions of it are hidden across the OS

 

[patent10021]

I figured it’s regional blocked by either the OS or your Apple ID?

my iPad Pro from Dubai for example only has FaceTime when I set the region to „Egypt“. Otherwise the App and all mentions of it are hidden across the OS

It's not the Apple ID. That's too easy to bypass. All you do is use another Apple ID. I have 3 Apple IDs from different countries. Easy.

It's SN geo-fenced.

 

[BlankStar]

It's not the Apple ID. That's too easy to bypass. All you do is use another Apple ID. I have 3 Apple IDs from different countries. Easy.

It's SN geo-fenced.

Have you tried to log in the app store with one of those Apple ID's and set the regional settings of the phone/watch to that same country? Assuming it's an ECQ enabled country.

 

[patent10021]

I don't currently have a watch. I sold mine because I'm going to buy a S5. I was going to buy a watch this week here in Japan, but they haven't approved ECG here so if I buy an expensive ceramic watch I'll just be wasting my money. I won't even be able to sell the watch next year because it doesn't have ECG.

I have heard that other people have tried to login with different Apple IDs to no avail.

With restricted apps you can switch Apple IDs and use the apps. But in this case we're talking about hardware that they have somehow disabled via serial number geo-fencing.

 

[ISKOTB]

I guess for me I will keep waiting...

 

[patent10021]

I guess for me I will keep waiting...

If you buy an AW in America/Canada with ECG, the ECG will work in UAE. But then your watch cellular may not work because of the bands.

 

[Xeyad]

So I bought an Apple Watch Series 5 from the Apple US store, and I have an iPhone X from the US as well. Unfortunately, the ECG app appears on the Apple Watch, but the health app refuses to enable it because it's not available in my region (UAE).

I tried everything. I tried VPN, I changed my account to United States, changed the region, and I re-paired the watch. Nothing worked.

Anyone has a solution to this?

 

[patent10021]

This confirms that they are using serial number geofencing. Insane.

Try disabling watch cellular then using VPN with iphone.

 

[ISKOTB]

I had this when I had WOS6 beta and now it is gone. You missed the most important part of it : )

So I bought an Apple Watch Series 5 from the Apple US store, and I have an iPhone X from the US as well. Unfortunately, the ECG app appears on the Apple Watch, but the health app refuses to enable it because it's not available in my region (UAE).

I tried everything. I tried VPN, I changed my account to United States, changed the region, and I re-paired the watch. Nothing worked.

Anyone has a solution to this?

 

[patent10021]

Also try a restore using USA region while using USA VPN.

Ah but if it is serial geofencing nothing will work because your SN is blocked.

 

[ISKOTB]

I see no way around this unless the AW was purchased from the US.

This confirms that they are using serial number geofencing. Insane.

Try disabling watch cellular then using VPN with iphone.

 

[Xeyad]

This confirms that they are using serial number geofencing. Insane.

Try disabling watch cellular then using VPN with iphone.

Doesn't work!

I see no way around this unless the AW was purchased from the US.

Both my Watch and iPhone X were purchased from the Apple US online store.

Looks like Apple did everything to block ECG outside of supported countries in iOS 13.

 

[ISKOTB]

We just updated to IOS 13.1, I just checked my wife ECG app in her US AW4 and it is working fine in the UAE!?

Both my Watch and iPhone X were purchased from the Apple US online store.

Looks like Apple did everything to block ECG outside of supported countries in iOS 13.

 

[Xeyad]

We just updated to IOS 13.1, I just checked my wife ECG app in her US AW4 and it is working fine in the UAE!?

Tried it on iOS 13.1...didn't work.

I think what's happening, is that once you pass the initial setup from the health app, you're good to go. Since mine is a new Series 5, I set the Watch as new. I have the ECG app on my Watch, but I can't use it because the Health app is blocking me.