Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference to kick off June 10 at 10 a.m. PDT with Keynote address
The Keynote will be available to stream onapple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, and the Apple YouTube channel. On-demand playback will be available after the conclusion of the stream.
The Keynote will be available to stream onapple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, and the Apple YouTube channel. On-demand playback will be available after the conclusion of the stream.
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User profile for user: VaughnLH
VaughnLH Author
User level: Level1 5 points
Not sure why i can't send or receive text/SMS messages on my Apple watch 4 when my iphone is not near. imessages work not text or SMS messages
Apple Watch Series 4, watchOS 5
Posted on Jun 8, 2019 12:10 PM
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User profile for user: BobHarris
BobHarris
User level: Level9 53,531 points
Posted on Jun 9, 2019 1:02 PM
SMS Text Messages REQUIRE a cell voice radio. The Apple Watch is a DATA ONLY cellular radio device, and as such it does only does voice over Internet and does NOT have SMS capabilities. So it needs to be able to find the iPhone and ask it to send SMS messages.
The same is true for a GPS only Apple Watch.
IMessage works because it is internet data only service.
So no iPhone, no SMS Text.
If the Apple Watch can find the iPhone via Bluetooth, WiFi or a cellular data connection, you can send SMS text messages.
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User profile for user: BobHarris
BobHarris
User level: Level9 53,531 points
Jun 9, 2019 1:02 PM in response to VaughnLH
SMS Text Messages REQUIRE a cell voice radio. The Apple Watch is a DATA ONLY cellular radio device, and as such it does only does voice over Internet and does NOT have SMS capabilities. So it needs to be able to find the iPhone and ask it to send SMS messages.
The same is true for a GPS only Apple Watch.
IMessage works because it is internet data only service.
So no iPhone, no SMS Text.
If the Apple Watch can find the iPhone via Bluetooth, WiFi or a cellular data connection, you can send SMS text messages.
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User profile for user: ChrisJ4203
ChrisJ4203
User level: Level10 230,419 points
Jun 8, 2019 12:28 PM in response to VaughnLH
See this support document, including the footnotes at the bottom as far as what you can do with the Apple Watch without its paired iPhone around. How to use your Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby - Apple Support
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User profile for user: VaughnLH
VaughnLH Author
User level: Level1 5 points
Jun 8, 2019 12:41 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
Still not too clear on after reading the document, including footnotes can you clarify if you completely understand it?
Am i NOT supposed to be able to send and receive messages from non-apple devices when my iPhone is left home?
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User profile for user: Branta_uk
Branta_uk
User level: Level7 32,548 points
Jun 8, 2019 1:10 PM in response to VaughnLH
The constraint is not “Apple or non-Apple” so much as “internet data or cellular telephony data services” listed in Footnote #1 in the support document. This limitation is outside Apple’s control and linked to how networks handle of old style accessory services like SMS.
The hookup for voice calls seems to involve remapping the (hidden) number tied to the eSIM so the network forwards incoming calls to the iPhone and the watch. This is not too difficult, call forwarding for voice has been around for ever, but there is no standard for forwarding SMS etc. This constraint doesn’t apply to iMessage which is routed through Internet data rather than SMS using spare bandwidth on a scheme which originated with the design of the original GSM service.
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User profile for user: deggie
deggie
User level: Level10 167,225 points
Jun 9, 2019 4:36 PM in response to VaughnLH
The Apple Watch GPS+Cellular is NOT a cellular data only device, it makes calls when you are away from your iPhone (and if you know the billing phone number for the Watch you can actually make a call directly to it. With my phone on AT&T I have found my iPhone is not with me but it is turned on I can send and receive SMS texts. And yes you can find it via cellular connection.
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User profile for user: VaughnLH
VaughnLH Author
User level: Level1 5 points
Jun 9, 2019 1:46 PM in response to BobHarris
Thanks BobHarris.
do you know if it’s possible for the watch to find the iPhone via cellular connection? And if so, how can I accomplish this?
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Can’t send text/SMS messages on Apple Watch 4 when iPhone is not near can only send imessage
