HT204562: About Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple Watch

Learn about About Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple Watch
7sRider

Q: If my phone is synched and connected via my home wifi network but out of bluetooth range (big house), can I send out any text messages or calls?


I have an Iphone 5s and am about to buy a 6plus.  I am also considering an Apple watch.  My question is about the type of connectivity between the phone and the watch.

I live in a good sized house with some masonry interior walls, so I cannot expect that the Bluetooth connection will work unless the watch and phone are in the same room.  However, I also have a home wifi network that meets technical standards that my phone recognizes automatically without having to enter a password.  I read that the watch can connect to the phone via this network if they are both within range of this wifi.. This would have obvious benefits in that I wouldn't have to always carry the phone in my pocket while moving around the house.

A major issue for me is not whether the watch can receive updates or notices from the phone (I gather it can), but whether there is any way to send out, ( initiate as well as answer), any type of text or call from the watch if it is only connected to the phone via wifi?  In other words is it a "receive only" type of function in those circumstances?

Apple Watch

Posted on Jul 9, 2015 8:39 AM

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Q: If my phone is synched and connected via my home wifi network but out of bluetooth range (big house), can I send out any text mess ... more

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Jul 9, 2015 2:01 PM in response to 7sRider
    Level 8 (49,034 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 9, 2015 2:01 PM in response to 7sRider

    The Apple Watch must be within Bluetooth range of the iPhone with which it is paired, to use most of its functions.

     

    From the manual, p.19:

     

    If your Apple Watch and iPhone are on the same network but aren’t connected by Bluetooth, you can also do the following on Apple Watch without iPhone:

     

    • Send and receive messages using iMessage

    • Send and receive Digital Touch messages

    • Use Siri

  • by stephensturm1987,

    stephensturm1987 stephensturm1987 Jul 17, 2015 10:12 AM in response to 7sRider
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jul 17, 2015 10:12 AM in response to 7sRider

    Currently there is no mention of the functionality that your asking about online or in the manual for Apple Watch. However, it is possible that with Watch OS 2.0 that we might see it then. Or maybe not even till latter on down the road. But, only time will tell.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Jul 17, 2015 10:53 AM in response to stephensturm1987
    Level 9 (54,563 points)
    Jul 17, 2015 10:53 AM in response to stephensturm1987

    Did you read the post from John Galt before you posted?