My carrier supports E-SIM for android watches ,but doesn’t support Apple Watch. Is this true ,that they have to work with Apple about technical support for Apple Watch ? It’s been like this

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nikoman1987 Author

Level 1

4 points

My carrier supports E-SIM for android watches ,but doesn’t support Apple Watch. Is this true ,that they have to work with Apple about technical support for Apple Watch ? It’s been like this

Hello! My name is Nikki and I have an issue with my carrier (A1 Bulgaria) The carrier supports E-SIM for android watches ,but they say (already for 2 years) that they are working in a tight connection with Apple to implement e-sim for Apple Watch. My question is : What’s the issue with carrier support and Apple and what needs to be done ,so the carrier can be supported on Apple Watch . Or is this a pure lie ,because I cannot find any information regarding this issue? Thanks in advance

Posted on Oct 16, 2021 8:16 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BobHarris

Level 9

55,109 points

Oct 17, 2021 1:43 PM in response to nikoman1987

The Cellular + GPS Apple Watch has an eSIM and shares the iPhone's phone number, and the carriers that support the Apple Watch charge a monthly fee. In the U.S. the fee is $10 per month. Here is a list of carriers that support the Apple Watch:

https://www.apple.com/watch/cellular

That means the carrier must be prepared to route a single phone number to 2 different devices. Not all carriers are prepared to do that.

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Answer 2

nikoman1987 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2021 3:00 AM in response to BobHarris

I know this ,and I already said that my carrier supports eSIM for all iPhone models that support eSIM ,they support eSIM on android watches too ,so I don’t see any hardware or software issue regarding the support of eSIM on Apple Watch .In my carrier official site they say that they support eSIM on Apple Watch ,but when I went in their offices ,or when I call them - they always say that they are working in a tight connection to implement the function and it’s been like this for 2 years.Actually in Bulgaria we have 3 carriers : A1 , Telenor and Vivacom - all of them support e-sim ,but they don’t support Apple Watch only! That’s why I asked what is so different between android Watch and Apple Watch , or is it a marketing trick…

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Answer 3

BobHarris

Level 9

55,109 points

Oct 22, 2021 6:57 PM in response to nikoman1987

The Apple Watch depends on sharing the iPhone phone number. That means your carrier needs to support 2 cellular radios and call both of them when someone dials your phone number. That means it needs to track the 2 radios regardless of whether they are using the same cellular towers or are miles away from each other, but still ring both the iPhone and the Apple Watch when someone calls your phone number.

This is something your cellular carrier must be willing to do, and most likely come to some kind of contract agreement with Apple.

Unless you were talking to the business and technical people at your cellular carrier which are actually working on this, chances are the typical customer support person lacks detailed knowledge about what is happening in the backroom.

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Answer 4

Branta_uk

Level 7

32,666 points

Oct 16, 2021 9:12 AM in response to nikoman1987

If they already support eSIM for other devices they have the core capability in place and there is no technical reason they can't cover Apple Watch. Apple is usually very happy to help networks support Apple Watch, so I suspect this is a commercial decision from your network - or political obstruction at regulatory and device approval level.

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Answer 5

BobHarris

Level 9

55,109 points

Oct 19, 2021 3:28 PM in response to nikoman1987

The Apple Watch Must be paired to the iPhone and the carrier must support the iPhone/Apple Watch combination.

At this point in time, the Apple Watch may not be used separate from an iPhone.

The closest thing is a dependent child's Apple Watch being controlled by a Parent's iPhone, may have its own separate phone number. But the Apple Watch does not have the full feature set, as some of the features depend on being able to have free access to the data on the iPhone, which is the parent's and not something that should be shared with a dependent child.

So if you want an Apple Watch without an iPhone or an Apple Watch that is not paired to an iPhone, that is not available at this time.

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Answer 6

nikoman1987 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 20, 2021 9:49 PM in response to BobHarris

Thanks again for the answer but this was not my question. My carrier supports eSIM for any kind of device ,except Apple Watch (they support eSIM for my XS Max ,for android phones and android watches).For 2 years they give the same answer : “We are working on it.We are working with Apple in a tight connection to implement eSIM support. What is so hard with Apple ,or this is a lie. My brain cannot comprehend how eSIM can be supported by my carrier on iPhone and every other device ,except Apple Watch!? What is so hard about eSIM support for Apple Watch ?

P.S. I’m asking this question ,because in few months I have to renew my carrier contract ,but i won’t renew it ,if they are lying ,I don’t want to wait another 2 years for the same generic answer.

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