Adding Apple Watch to SIM only

[chistery]

The Twitter team told me that as long as my plan is eligible, then I can buy from Apple and just pay the £5 to use the data I've already paid for on the watch.

[sophos9]

Yep I really hope that is the case. I like Vodafone and I like Apple Watch so

[kendo88]

The Twitter team having been giving wrong info out about Apple Watch since it went live yesterday, so please don’t make a purchase based on what they say

[medialook]

Hi there. Just purchased the esim plan to use with my AW3 / existing red plan from the street store. However when I'm trying to activate my iPhone shows following message: "Vodafone UK does not currently support Apple Watch"

can you help help me please?

btw offer was great: £5/month / monthly rolling contract/ first 6 months free of charge

[sophos9]

As far as I know, no activations are taking place until 21st September

[medialook]

Thanks. This might be the case. I guess their retail & 191 team isn't trained properly at this time. The guy who sold me the plan said it will take 30 minutes to get active and been suprised with the promo offer I could get 

[chistery]

It's on their web site:

Already have an Apple Watch Series 3?

It can be linked to your existing Vodafone iPhone plan for just £5 a month (free for the first 6 months).

Apple Watch connectivity with Vodafone will be available 21 September. Come back then and we’ll get you set up.

[medialook]

When i look on the website i don't see the date just as per attached screen. Will call them now.

[chistery]

It's on this page: 

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/brands/apple/watch/

[medialook]

yes - thats where i did screenshot from - seems like they removed the date.

[chistery]

How strange. Have you tried it in a different browser or incognito window? 

[medialook]

Ahh good tip. Initially checked in safari now in Chrome it shows with the date as per attached. Anyway their customer service is lost as im on line right now and the guy doesnt have much clue what to do but it;s ok - i am glad they have finally introduced it. Now just i want to upgrade my Iphone 7 to new XS or XS MAX (can't decide yet until i take it to hand)

[chistery]

Well, no surprise that their customer services don't have a clue!

I've gone for the Xs, looking forward to next Friday! Still don't think I'll use the cellular part of the watch much so just going with the GPS version

[medialook]

I see. I dont think i will use cellular as well. But i will see - first months are free anyway. 

BTW - Vodafone technical help is completly lost - now they have asked me to send my apple watch to apple as it hasnt been purchased from Vodafone, before they have asked me to reset apple watch completly. When i mentioned about the 21 september (as you pointed) they said it's just for the apple watch 4

[C225]

Getting a different message than the usual error on the eligibility check now. 

Thank you. We've now completed your eligibility check. In this instance we need to talk with you to complete some additional steps. Please give us a call on 191.

No point phoning until I have the watch but maybe a bit more promising. 

[Zenith86]

It won’t add it when I try to set up my watch. I have the Red Entertainment sim only package so I assumed I’d be able to add my watch.

[medialook]

So finally i did set this up earlier this week but not sure will I use it. Don't find it really useful for now as most of the time I have my phone with me or I'm wi-fi connected. For now I will enjoy free months and most likely cancel the plan. 

[Andyfitter]

I’m on red entertainment. Sim only and my voda purchased watch works fine. Just need to make sure the data plan is properly provisioned as I’ve explained in many posts over the last c9 eofhurs. Truly abysmal service from. Voda to not clarify that part of the setup. 

[Zenith86]

I tried your method earlier and it didn’t work for me. I just get a logon screen then it says it isn’t available and to ring which I guess I’ll have to do tomorrow.

[m3centurion]

---

@macdegsy wrote:

My experiences with Live Chat have always been frustating and frawght with misinformation and inaccuracies, but then again, calling them doesn't necessessarily improve on that!

I've been with Vodafone for 22yrs of unbroken loyalty and that's only because I rarely have to get in touch with them.  If I had to contact Vodafone more often, I'd have left long ago

As for the Apple Watch, I'll be buying mine in Canada, as it's around £100 cheaper.  The only thing I've to check out yet whether the eSim is only loaded once you start it up for the first time and therefore does it mean it won't matter I buy it outside of the UK, as when I set it up, it'll set up on a UK network.  If not possible, I'll be buying the non Cellular one

---

I am lead to believe that you cannot buy the watch outside of the country you want to use it in.  So if you want to use the eSIM you need to buy the phone in the UK as the watch is not unlocked like the iPhone.