SMS text on Apple Watch

[Kev975]

Can anyone help
With Vodafone if you purchase an Apple Watch can you send SMS text when your phone is not present? I don’t mean iMessage I mean SMS text can you text and receive on your watch without your phone being present?

[Charlotte]

Hello, @Kev975. I hope you're well.
You can read and respond to text messages if your Apple Watch is set up on a One Number plan. You can view the guidance on Apple here, and you can also view our Device Guide here which shows how to read and respond to messages on your Apple Watch.

[Kev975]

Thank you but I went into the shop in Nuneaton they told me no you can only do iMessage and your agent on chat said the same about an hour ago? I made it clear if I leave my phone at home in  Coventry and travel to Scotland with just the watch I should still be able to send a receive text on SMS on my My Apple Watch, they’re saying no only iMessage??? I explained, I don’t use iMessage at all. It’s totally switched off only referring to SMS text and they said the same no only iMessage. The two watches I refer to are the new ultra 2 and the series ten 

[Charlotte]

We have support pages on our Device Guides which have separate sections for SMS and iMessages, @Kev975 and the guides which I'm giving you are specifically for SMS. You can view the help guide for the latest models here.

[Kev975]

Yes thank you appreciate that but I’m talking about the ultra  two and the series 10 your Guide shows a series 8 and as  explained I can only go on what agent told me on chat And three of your Store staff told me in the store that you cannot do it hence you can see why I’m confused. You’re saying it’s on your site but yours says a series 8 not an order two or a serious 10 Apple say you can do it, but your Customer Service online says you cannot do it and three of your customers agents in the shop says you cannot do it. Apple says that Vodafone and O2 are part of their partners I guess it is but even my friends on 02 told they don’t do it that you can’t do it so it’s just widelyconfusing

[Beth]

I've checked Apple's support page for your Watch and I can see you are able to make and receive texts on your Apple Watch 10 series without your iPhone nearby, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. You can find more information about this here. You can also find more information here regarding how to send a text using your Apple Watch, for when you receive them.

I understand you've had a few opposing pieces of advice, so I've double checked with my colleague for you who has done this personally, and they've confirmed this is a feature possible with a Watch purchased with us. I hope this helps 🙂

[Kev975]

Hi Beth,

thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I understand what you’re saying, but I’m even more confused because I went into another vodaphone shop  this morning in person they clearly told me you have to have the Bluetooth on and your phone with you at all times. It’s just getting frustrating with respect the lady before you said one thing you’re saying one thing your people on the phone is saying something else somebody the shop changed something else then you go on chat and say they say something else. I mean, you sell these watches there are  six of us that are trying to come over to Vodafone from O2 Who all have Apple watches series 10 or the ultra two. Apple have confirmed that you can text without your phone being present. 02  now say no you cannot. You must take your phone everywhere with you and some of your staff have said the same so you can understand. I’m a bit frustrated. I’m trying to sort this out for friends, we’ve all got Apple watches And then your staff  very are saying they don’t work from Apple as well. You have to buy watch from Vodafone, which is the same as what O2 told People and Apple are going mad because they say no you can buy direct from Apple and it should be able to work. It just seems a vicious circle everybody giving different stories. So I am still totally confused 😢😢😢

[Beth]

I'm sorry you feel this way @Kev975. I've confirmed with Apple Support pages that you're able to send texts from your Apple Watch as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, I can see that Charlotte also confirmed this was possible above. I can't speak for O2 as that's a different company, but all the information I have states this is possible and I've also confirmed with a colleague who's done this personally. 

If you have any issues trying to send a text message when your iPhone isn't nearby from your watch, please reach out to the Social Media team here, and they'll be able to review your account with you and assist with troubleshooting 🙂

[Kev975]

Hi Beth it was not  a dig at you I was just explaining so many people at Vodafone in the store on the phone and on chat saying so many different things as I’ve just explained below to Anne after speak to friends today there’s now 27 that want to leave O2 because O2 are saying you can’t do it it’s impossible when Apple is saying hundred percent you can as long as the carrier has it. As Apple said it slowly down to the carriers plan as long as the phone is on Wi-Fi you can leave your phone at home  you put your watch onto cellular data and you could leave your phone one end of the country and you could go to your end of the country with the watch and still send a receive SMS text all day Thank you

[AnnS]

You have been given the correct information @Kev975 , Assuming your iphone is turned on, the reason you need a WiFi connection is for the watch to relay a signal to your iphone to send the message over the network.

I would also recommend posting on the Apple Community and asking Google this question.