Apple Watch and roaming

[Dingerdoidge1]

Do I need to pay for roaming on my Apple Watch 6 or does it share my phone roaming?

[Luca-B]

Disappointing, especially after I specifically asked to my local EE shop before buying the watch and been told it would

[Leanne_T]

Hi @Luca-B 

I am sorry to hear you have been advised this in the store, you’ll still be able to use most of the features when roaming if the watch is connected to your phone via Bluetooth.

Leanne, 

[MTB-SNOW]

Bit disappointing, poor even, when the whole point of a cellular enabled watch is that you don’t have to have your phone with you.  
The lack of roaming let me down mountain biking in the Alps this week (when I didn’t want to carry my phone on the trails). 
I expect EE’s lack of roaming for the Apple Watch Ultra will let me down again if I go skiing this year. 
Get it together EE. 

[Chris_B]

@MTB-SNOW   The watch type you have has no bearing on whether it can roam or not.  At present no smart watch with EE has the possibility to roam.   All smart watches are sold with UK usage only.   And if/when EE actually get round to allowing this there’s probably going to be a cost involved as your phone tariff add on is just for that phone.      EE do really need to sort this and I couldn’t agree more.  

[Cornscot21]

Hi @Christopher_G ,

could you please update on the latest position as I have an Apple Watch Ultra and I was led to believe that would work with data roaming abroad without being tied to the associated mobile. On an All-in sim plan with roaming ad the add on. Thanks. 

[Katie_B]

Hi @Cornscot21. 

We don't currently have any further update here on the community. 

Katie

[AAA1000]

We are having the same issue and it’s really frustrating, we were not made aware of this before buying 3 Apple Watches on EE contracts a few weeks ago.

There must be a solution, even if it means switching to another network - it does not seem reasonable to buy Apple Watches on EE contracts and then be prevented from using their normal functionality in Europe. This has to be sorted one way or another.

[Chris_B]

@AAA1000   Did you ask if they can be used abroad?  As it’s not advertised it can be.  

[Clawzskunk]

Cellular connection and roaming is a base function of the watch. Buying a cellular model of the watch also suggests that you’re going to be using it for either calls or data while not with your phone.

As far as I’m aware, all other data plans on e-sim roam in other countries, such as the eSIM attached to my iPad.

Ultimately if you’re going to sell something that is designed to not need a phone, but that requires cellular access, then it’s reasonable to highlight its limitations prior to sale.

The real question on most people’s lips is “why doesn’t it roam?”. It’s an eSIM (the same as that attached to my iPad). It’s certainly capable of doing it and other providers / countries do it, so why doesn’t EE?

[Chris_B]

@Clawzskunk   Because it’s sold as UK usage only and not asking if it can be used on a roaming network is down to the purchaser to ask other than that it’s just an assumption it’ll work.  
 Roaming is not contractual it’s optional and optional doesn’t mean it has to be supported.   (just like 3 way calling, devices can support the feature it doesn’t mean a network has too) Yes it’s down to the end user if they want to purchase an add on to allow this to work but at present it’s simply not supported so no add on is sold to allow this to work abroad.   It’s not just EE it’s the roaming network that have to allow your watch to connect and EE have to setup an agreement with roaming networks.