What’s the difference between paired plan and un paired plan on Apple Watch

[Anthony39]

What’s the difference between paired plan and un paired plan on Apple Watch

[Chris_B · Accepted solution]

@Anthony39   A paired plan. (personal paired plan)    Your watch will ring when your phone does and you can leave your phone at home and still receive calls on the watch when someone calls your phone.  

(You want this plan if you are having the watch yourself or are giving it to someone who already has a iPhone) 

a unpaired  plan (family member plan).  The watch is a stand alone device and is not connected to a iPhone at all.     You still need a iPhone to set it up and that device is the control  device of that watch.   This type of plan is good for parents who want to give a watch to their child so they can also keep track of them see where they are, they also can control who they can call from the watch.    Think of it as a phone on your wrist.    

[Will491]

Hi,

In the unpaired family plan, can the user of the Apple Watch make calls to the user of the iPhone that was used to set it up (and Visa Versa)?

Thanks,

Will

[Jon_K]

Hi @Will491.

Welcome to the community.

If you're using the watch on Bluetooth, you will be able to do this, yes.

The calls will need to be made/received when the phone is within range of the watch.

Jon

[Will491]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the reply. However, you misunderstood the scenario I was suggesting (probably my fault).

In my scenario, the Apple Watch is a GSM watch that doesn't rely on pairing to an iPhone. However, as I understand it, even GSM watches with their own SIM card installed need to be connected to an iPhone initially for setup. So, I'm just looking for confirmation that once that setup is done, and the Apple Watch is up and running and communicating via GSM, that it will be able to call the iPhone on the same family plan that was used to set it up initially.

Hope that makes more sense?

[James_B]

Hi @Will491,

Yes, with a Family Member plan, the watch will have its own phone number.

James

[Chris_B]

@Will491 if you’re having a family plan then the watch will be able to call the iPhone as it’s a cellular watch that has its own allowance for calls/text and data. 

the watch must be on a family plan to be able to call any phone not just the setup iPhone 

you are setting up a small phone to go on a wrist and this just needs a iPhone on a EE contract to setup and be the control device for that watch 

[Will491]

Thanks James_B and Chris_B 🙂

[James_B]

No problem @Will491 🙂

James