Apple watch 3 cellular service with business phone

Question

Level 1

9 points

Apple watch 3 cellular service with business phone

I recently purchased the Series 3 Apple Watch to replace my Series 2, because I am looking for standalone cellular connectivity. My only phone is an iPhone SE which is a business phone, connected to my company's AT&T account. I have no ability to add a device to this massive corporate account, so I'd like to turn on cellular service using my personal AT&T account which is used for all of my family's iPhones and iPads. So in summary, I need the new watch paired to my work phone, but would like to pay for my own cellular service. AT&T has been unable to help me. I can't be the only person in the world that wants to pair an Apple Watch 3 to a business phone. Is there a method or update in work to allow separate cellular service to be established for an Apple watch 3 to remain paired to a business iPhone?

Apple Watch Series 3, watchOS 4.2

Posted on Jan 2, 2018 10:35 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 2, 2018 10:59 AM in response to cactusbob4

I spent several hours on the phone with apple and ATT. I have the same issue. Apple now admits that there original statement that the phone and watch only had to be on the same carrier is wrong. It has to be on both the same carrier and the same plan. SO that means that a business or company provided phone will not work with a watch on your own personal plan (say you have a plan for the rest of your family and you want to add the watch to share the data with them). This will not work.

I told them this is a significant issue as many people have company provided phones and now that won't work with a cellular watch. They did not imply that this would ever be addressed. I'm very upset by this, as the original postings from apple only said that it had to be the same carrier (my business phone is ATT and so is my personal family account).

Buyer beware!!!

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,990 points

Jan 22, 2018 9:25 AM in response to cactusbob4

It won't work. The e-sim piggybacks off of the SIM in the device it's paired with.

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Answer 3

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Jan 2, 2018 10:39 AM in response to cactusbob4

Hi

To use the built-in cellular feature on Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular), you need a service plan for your iPhone that specifically includes support for your watch, including the carrier activating the device on the plan.

If your employer will not accommodate this, then I'm afraid that the only option is to contact the carrier used by your employer to ask about any options that you may be able to arrange with them directly in conjunction with your employer's plan.

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Answer 4

cactusbob4 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 22, 2018 9:23 AM in response to Jonathan UK

Really unfortunate. Any idea what would happen if I paired my watch 3 to my wife‘siPhone and then turned on cellular service and then paired it back with my work iPhone?

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Answer 5

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Jan 22, 2018 9:28 AM in response to cactusbob4

Even if you set up the cellular feature in conjunction with your wife's iPhone, it would no longer work after pairing it back to yours.

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) has a built-in eSIM that copies information from the paired iPhone's SIM card.

The built-in cellular feature requires a carrier plan for your iPhone that specifically includes support for Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular), including the carrier activating the device on the plan.

My previous reply refers.

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