LTE without service

If I have an Apple watch 5 GPS+LTE without a cellular plan, and I am a mile away from my phone, and press the SOS button (/have a hard fall), what will happen?

Apple Watch

Posted on Jan 23, 2020 11:50 AM

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4 replies

Randy-12

Level 7

20,163 points

Jan 23, 2020 11:58 AM in response to LTEwithoutservice

Unless you are on a known WiFi (one that your phone has previously connected to) nothing will happen.

Your watch will have no way to communicate without your phone there.

BobHarris

Level 9

57,041 points

Jan 23, 2020 4:54 PM in response to LTEwithoutservice

A Series 5 cellular can make an emergency services call, in most countries, without a contract and without the iPhone being nearby.

If you have a GPS only model, you need the iPhone nearby.

Jan 23, 2020 2:52 PM in response to BobHarris

So does that mean the Apple watch LTE version does NOT make emergency calls without a cellular plan (and without a iPhone nearby)? Unlike a cellphone without a sim card?

BobHarris

Level 9

57,041 points

Jan 23, 2020 12:01 PM in response to LTEwithoutservice

Series 5 Fall Detection and Emergency Services on Cellular Apple Watch Series 5 with no cellular contract

https://support.apple.com/HT206983

https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/#branded-international-emergency

https://support.apple.com/HT208944

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LTE without service