barbls2003

Q: could the iWatch be used as an emergency call service to 911?

could the iwatch be used as an emergency call service to 911? for senior citizens

 

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Posted on Aug 31, 2015 9:01 AM

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Q: could the iWatch be used as an emergency call service to 911?

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  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 27, 2015 8:26 AM in response to barbls2003
    Level 8 (36,915 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 27, 2015 8:26 AM in response to barbls2003

    On Apple Watch:

     

    • Telling Siri to call the emergency services results in Siri prompting Handoff to iPhone.
    • Even if the emergency services number has been added as both an iPhone contact and an Apple Watch Friend - telling Siri to call that contact will also only result in Siri prompting Handoff to iPhone.

     

    Other ways to call emergency services using Apple Watch:

    • After being added to Friends, the emergency services contact can be called from the watch manually: Open that Friends contact > Tap the call icon > the call appears to start immediately on iPhone.
    • Apple Watch can also be used to place calls to iPhone Contacts (ie if the emergency services number is stored there): Open the Phone app on Apple Watch > Tap on Contacts > Select a contact.

     

    Note also that Apple specifically advises against relying on iPhone for emergencies:

     

    "Important: You can use iPhone to make an emergency call in many locations, provided that cellular service is available, but you should not rely on it for emergencies. Some cellular networks may not accept an emergency call from iPhone if iPhone is not activated, if iPhone is not compatible with or configured to operate on a particular cellular network, or (when applicable) if iPhone does not have a SIM card or if the SIM card is PIN-locked."

    http://help.apple.com/iphone/8/#/iph3c99374c

     

    Features differ on iPhone, where Apple's usage examples for iOS include telling Siri to call 911. Calls via Siri on iPhone appear to be placed after a 5 second pause, during which time they can be cancelled. See the "Staying in Touch" category here: http://www.apple.com/ios/siri/

     

    Important note:

    • Do not rely upon any comments here concerning whether or how a device should or can be used to place emergency calls (including my own comments, which are based on personal testing).
    • Establish independently how any device may be used to place emergency calls.
    • Siri and other software features may vary by country and by software and hardware versions.
    • Apple's guidelines and disclaimers about placing emergency calls with or via iPhone also apply.
  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Aug 27, 2015 4:28 PM in response to barbls2003
    Level 9 (59,389 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 27, 2015 4:28 PM in response to barbls2003

    barbls2003 wrote:

     

    could the iwatch be used as an emergency call service to 911? for senior citizens

    Only if they also have an iPhone with them. The Apple Watch has no cellular capabilities and relies on its Bluetooth connection to the iPhone to make and receive calls.