Smartwatch 4G roaming - Why is this not enabled?

[JBloomfield]

I've got:

A smart benefit on my main plan that enables data roaming in Europe.

A plan for my smartwatch so that it can be used on 4G, which works perfectly in the UK.

So why when I go to Europe does EE not allow the watch to roam and connect to the same European networks that my phone does?

I thought this might have been a technical issue (signal band support or similar) but other networks (vodafone, for example) DO offer roaming for smartwatches and it works just fine. It seems like EE just don't allow this for seemingly no reason even though I'm paying for the two things that should make this work just fine.

I'd either like some proper justification for this or I'd like the feature to be enabled. I can't see any logical reason to not enable this - data should be data regardless of which device is using it!

[Schockwave]

Hello @JBloomfield ,

Welcome to the community,

Smartwatch will not work on cellular when roaming, but will work via bluetooth, so you would need to keep the phone within close proximity for it to work whilst roaming.

I have Apple Watch and know that roaming does not work unless I have my phone in proximity as it will work via bluetooth. 

I doubt you will get anymore information here, this is not customer service, but a public forum.

Are you sure that other networks enable smartwatches to work cellular when roaming?

[Chris_B]

@JBloomfield if EE choose not to allow roaming on a smart watch it’s up to them you’re not paying for the option for roaming on the watch and your contract is for UK usage and that’s how it was sold and purchased by yourself.    Any add ons you purchase to use your phone tariff outside the UK are only for the phone not the watch.  

[marcpuricelli]

Completely agree. This drives me insane. I spent countless hours talking to EE trying to get an answer but they refuse to give an explanation. Consumer hostile behavior and I'm looking forward to dumping them as soon as my contract expires.

[marcpuricelli]

Why defend EE so much Chris? You work for them? There's absolutely no reason to deny paying customers to enjoy their watch abroad if we're paying for roaming and the apple watch add on. I would even pay extra for it if that was the problem. But EE doesn't even give us the option, rendering the device useless in my opinion. Apple allows it, other carriers allow it, this is just pure stupidity, laziness, or incompetence on the part of EE. As so many companies in the UK, screwing the customer seems to be an absolute priority. Can't wait to leave this disastrous country.

[Chris_B]

@marcpuricelli   Apparently it’s in the works. And they don’t have to give you any dates when that option will be available as nothing has been officially announced. 

   But your tariff for the watch wasn’t sold to you with an option to have roaming enabled on that tariff.  

[marcpuricelli]

Thanks for sharing. I hope you're right. I m considering paying 300 quid to cancel my contract early as O2 and Three just confirmed to me they do this no problem

[michael23578925]

EE don't offer this. They always reply with bs about using Bluetooth....which is infuriating as it's not the question asked.

Vodafone offer this. Maybe time to leave EE if they don't want to enable a feature that, let's face it, you're already paying for.

[Chris_B]

@marcpuricelli    Your paying for what ?  Your contract is for UK usage and you’re paying for that and that’s all 
You not paying anything in order to roam with the watch and the watch wasn’t sold to you with anything stating you can use it on a roaming network.   

[michael23578925]

Very defensive of EE there @Chris_B ! Do you work for them?

Many people pay extra roaming fees and expect roaming abilites as part of their contract, either included in the cost or available at extra cost.

Given the data loads of a smart watch being next to nothing and the massive amounts they charge for the addition - doesnt seem quite commensurate with the tone of your post....