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Can the watch work with 2 separate phones?

I have a personal phone on Tmobile and looking to get the S2 activated to get calls from my personal number. Do I need to have the watch synced to the phone on Tmobile for this to work? I also have a work phone on AT&T that I would like to connect to get Hangouts notifications on the watch if possible and not connect to my Tmobile phone.

I have T-Mobile and recently went ahead and got the service for my Gear s2 watch. In the Gear Manager app I turned on call forwarding and indicated the new phone # of the watch and all calls forwarded to the watch if I don't pick up my phone. I don't see the field there to call forward to 2 different phone #s. You can install Gear Manager on AT&T phone(if it is Android) and make it your main phone, then enable call forwarding to your watch . Before you do the above, you would need to do "light reset" of the watch in the settings to be able to connect to another phone. <- in all of my cases, it was required when I wanted to connect my watch to another phone.

Oh I didn't know the watch has its own phone number and that the calls needed to be forwarded. I guess I thought wrong that the watch could be stand alone using my same number.
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Watch doesn't receive phone calls when connected through Wifi

I just noticed my watch will not receive phone calls when it is connected to the phone through wifi. For example, when my phone is out of Bluetooth range, but still connected through Wifi, I can receive notifications, as well as receive and reply to texts, but calls are not forwarded.
I have the wifi only version of the Gear S3. Not the LTE version.
Anyone else experiencing this?

Do you have a non samsung phone? If you do then i think thats why because the call forwarding out of bluetooth range works a little different on samsung phones vs non samsung phones.

I do not think that non LTE S3s can receive calls on WiFi. They only pair via Bluetooth for calls. Data is ok for WiFi, but there was no mention for WiFi calling that I'm aware of. That is why the LTE models do standalone mode via cell network.
Sent from a TMo V20

It should be able to. It says it on the website it need a phone app for calls to work on the non-lte version. My guess is an update will fix that.

Have you turned on Remote Connection in the Gear app on your phone?
Settings>Gear Connection>Remote Connection

seamus1000 said:
Have you turned on Remote Connection in the Gear app on your phone?
Settings>Gear Connection>Remote Connection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's on by default.

The picture says requires WiFi and a voice call app. That means some third party app' but not your telephone operator's and voice line from them. At least this is how I would interpret that.
Sent from a TMo V20

Any update on this, im curious can you receive calls when you are within the bluetooth and wifi range? I asked about the voice call app and never got an answer back. What is this app and where do you download it from?

There's no voice app yet that runs on WiFi and has VOIP functionality, afaik.
Sent from a TMo V20

But can you make calls if you are connected via Bluetooth at least?

arf8 said:
But can you make calls if you are connected via Bluetooth at least?
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Yes, that part works.

great thanks for confirmation

It would however great if there is at least an option for sending a "missed call" message.
So no bluetooth, because you left the phone in the house a few rooms too far away, but still trigger on the s3.
And also for other messages. I do not seem to get them either.
Tested with just bluetooth switched of on the phone.
When I use the messaging app on the watch I can read them via wifi.
Huib

On old Gear S, after BT disconnect, the watch is connected with the phone via Samsung account.
Because there is a sim involved, the Gear app redirect the calls to the watch number but all the notifications, SMS, WhatsUp, etc are relayed to the watch via Samsung account.
This is the part I don't understand in S3 .. if the phone and watch are connected via wifi, why the notifications are missing?
Fine, there is no voice even if they advertised something about a voice app which does not exist, but notifications?

I think i know why the voice call app is not released. This watch has a horrible wifi connectivity issue. I found this bug out and reported it to Samsung developer forum hoping for a fix. While the watch does report "Connected" all the time when you are connected via wifi.
I setup a few tests a foot away from my router without any other devices on the 2.4GHz network to saturate it. I noticed there was constant timeouts, this explained why trying to use the Gear Watch Designer to load a new watch face took so many retries. Sure enough the Wifi connection is anything but stable and worthless if you ask me with the constant timeouts.

A small app that only sends a "missed call" message via Wifi would already be mothers little helper.
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BTW I understood that Bluetooth 5 has a far larger range?
Huib

Think of bluetooth as a euphemism for "connected at the hip". Whether its a keyboard, headset, stylus, watch, or other gadget, if it works via bluetooth it's only designed to operate within a few feet of the mothership. If you don't want to carry your phone on you everywhere, get the LTE version of the watch.

gianoit said:
gear S3 can make a pin on a map and you can see where you are if you have an internet connection
but i want to use only the integrated gps an see the coordinate where i am
anyone known an app for doing it??
tia giano
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try find my car from galaxy apps.
herpi said:
A small app that only sends a "missed call" message via Wifi would already be mothers little helper.
---
BTW I understood that Bluetooth 5 has a far larger range?
Huib
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it has 4x range!!!
Sent from my SM-G935F using XDA-Developers mobile app

hummmmm...always a problem somewhere with this watch : or it doesn't work if non stock roms, or does'nt want to connect to samsung account using wifi (but the samsung account says it is !)....a little bit tired about that !!! even if i looove this watch !

I have 2 different WiFi routers. I connected my watch h to one and my phone to the other. I also turned off Bluetooth.
I used a different phone to make a call to my phone, it did not ring but i received a missed call notification on the watch , I could receive sms and whatsapp messages and can reply to them.
The only thing I couldn't do was make and receive a phone call from the watch.

WhatsApp notification - does it need the phone?

Hi,
I know there are a couple of WhatsApp threads but my query is different.
As I understand, there is no WhatsApp app for Android Wear 2.0 but notifications are sent to the watch. In that case, is it necessary that the watch and phone are connected via Bluetooth?
If not i.e. WhatsApp can work via an independent connection, I have another query.
In India, eSim isn't permitted and I'm sure I can't get two sim cards with the same number. In that case, I'll require a sim card with a separate connection. My WhatsApp would be linked to my primary number which is in the phone.
In this case, if I'm away from the phone (say on a run that I never seem to get up on time to go) and LTE is on, will I still get notifications via this connection?
Thanks

vigneshnm said:
Hi,
I know there are a couple of WhatsApp threads but my query is different.
As I understand, there is no WhatsApp app for Android Wear 2.0 but notifications are sent to the watch. In that case, is it necessary that the watch and phone are connected via Bluetooth?
If not i.e. WhatsApp can work via an independent connection, I have another query.
In India, eSim isn't permitted and I'm sure I can't get two sim cards with the same number. In that case, I'll require a sim card with a separate connection. My WhatsApp would be linked to my primary number which is in the phone.
In this case, if I'm away from the phone (say on a run that I never seem to get up on time to go) and LTE is on, will I still get notifications via this connection?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In short...yes! The simcard you insert in the watch enables a 3g/4g connection on the watch. Doesnt matter which phone number the watch has. When no longer connected through bluetooth with a phone the 3g/4g connection replaces the bluetooth connection. So every notification received on the phone is send to the watch using its 3g/4g dataconnection, including whatsapp. You can even reply to them, even start a new conversation using Google assistant.
Ofcourse this can only work of your phone is connected to the internet, because it needs to send all notifications to the watch through the internet.

glenner05 said:
In short...yes! The simcard you insert in the watch enables a 3g/4g connection on the watch. Doesnt matter which phone number the watch has. When no longer connected through bluetooth with a phone the 3g/4g connection replaces the bluetooth connection. So every notification received on the phone is send to the watch using its 3g/4g dataconnection, including whatsapp. You can even reply to them, even start a new conversation using Google assistant.
Ofcourse this can only work of your phone is connected to the internet, because it needs to send all notifications to the watch through the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah so that means this works similar to WhatsApp Web. The web browser or the watch in this case is just a thin client with a display while all the heavy lifting is being done by the phone.
Is this true for other messaging platforms that have apps such as Telegram, Skype and FB messenger or can they work even if the phone is switched off/ doesn't have network?
Thanks

Since it only shows notifications, I presume I cannot open any chat on the phone and see the chat history? Or that if I swipe away a notification, I can't read it or reply it to it save using "ok Google" to send a message.
Sent from my FIND7 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

vigneshnm said:
Since it only shows notifications, I presume I cannot open any chat on the phone and see the chat history? Or that if I swipe away a notification, I can't read it or reply it to it save using "ok Google" to send a message.
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Click to collapse
Correct...
And If phone offline you can only call and use sms on the watch since it has its own sms app

Thanks for your replies, really helps me understand this watch better.
If there are multiple messages, either from one contact or from more than one, does it show all messages with an option to reply to them individually or does it show only the first/ last message like Gear S3 does?
I know I have a lot of questions, plonking down $400 on a luxury item is a huge decision to take!

Brand spankin' new watch doesn't work.

Got mine (LTE through TMob) a couple of days ago and immediately started with problems. I have a separate watch line with an S7 Edge. Essentially I can send/receive text in the stand alone mode but can not call out or receive. (Can on BT) Had the tech guys play with it (they thought it was a line issue) and they put a ticket in. That might get it working in a week. I thought I could bypass the problem with the line using DIGITS and my cell but nope. Turns out (according to the DIGITS guru) its a sim card problem so they are exchanging the watch. Not an impressive first start but I'm hopeful it'll get better. Hopefully...
Everything BT seems to work but its only been 2 days. I still need to check all the stand alone things when I get the replacement. And, of course, stand alone was the point of the watch.

Also make sure it works in remote connect mode, which is more useful than standalone mode.

How does remote connect work? Wifi?

The connection mode is shown by pulling down on the watchface. It will say "standalone", "connected via BT", or "remotely connected via carrier".
In remote connection mode, the watch doesn't communicate with the phone. Only calls and messages directly to the watch's number are transmitted. No notifications (ie. email, missed calls, Hangouts) from the phone are passed through. In remote connection mode, the watch communicates via it's LTE radio to the phone whether it be in different room or a different state. This allows all notifications to be passed through.
I keep WiFi turned off, it seems (inadequately) redundant for an LTE watch.

And the difference between that and Stand Alone is what?

afblangley said:
In remote connection mode, the watch doesn't communicate with the phone. Only calls and messages directly to the watch's number are transmitted. No notifications (ie. email, missed calls, Hangouts) from the phone are passed through.
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I made a typo. What I meant to say is that in standalone mode the watch doesn't communicate with the phone.

afblangley said:
I made a typo. What I meant to say is that in standalone mode the watch doesn't communicate with the phone.
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Click to collapse
AHHHHH... That makes more sense. I'm going to use DIGITS. Do you know how that impacts? Or if it does?

rogerperk said:
AHHHHH... That makes more sense. I'm going to use DIGITS. Do you know how that impacts? Or if it does?
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Click to collapse
Nope, sorry. I use Google Voice, so I don't​ have first hand experience with Digits.

afblangley said:
Nope, sorry. I use Google Voice, so I don't​ have first hand experience with Digits.
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Click to collapse
How does Google voice work with t-mobile
Sent from my SM-N950U using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2

cherylbaker said:
How does Google voice work with t-mobile
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Click to collapse
Google Voice for the most part, is carrier ignostic. Calls to a GV number can be forwarded to any of several landlines, cell lines, or digital lines. Outgoing caller ID is a bit trickier and device dependent. Messages can be handled through the messaging app or Hangouts.
In my setup, since my public number is under Google's custodianship, carrier assigned numbers are irrelevant/disposable. My watch, phones, and tablets each have their own carrier number, GV is configured to forward calls to each of these numbers, and they ring simultaneously and independently. Ditto with messages. The carrier has no input in this process. The Gear is also ignorant of this. I don't need to use it's call forwarding setting.
I don't doubt that T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon will eventually get all the kinks worked out of their number sharing system. But Google has been at it for a few years and offers more features, flexibility, and gives power back to the user.

So here's what we got after 5 days:
With my second watch in hand Im informed that the tMob engineers have decided the watch os bad and needs to go back to Samsung. After explaining that the odds against 2 bad watches were pretty small and demanding to be escalated I got a good manager who agreed. The watch is fine. After some digging she decided the problem was that the line is screwed up on the back end and won't connect voice. Problem is she has no idea why or how to fix it. So I'm waiting for their "engineers" to look at it again with her cracking the whip. Bottom line for me is if I can't get a stand alone watch I'm not interested and expect a full refund AND for them to not market what they can't provide. We'll see.

If the line is messed up, why can't they just start from scratch and assign the watch a new number? Then setup the watch without a phone to make sure it works. This is true standalone. If that works, then the problem is with Digits, not the watch or the line.

afblangley said:
Google Voice for the most part, is carrier ignostic. Calls to a GV number can be forwarded to any of several landlines, cell lines, or digital lines. Outgoing caller ID is a bit trickier and device dependent. Messages can be handled through the messaging app or Hangouts.
In my setup, since my public number is under Google's custodianship, carrier assigned numbers are irrelevant/disposable. My watch, phones, and tablets each have their own carrier number, GV is configured to forward calls to each of these numbers, and they ring simultaneously and independently. Ditto with messages. The carrier has no input in this process. The Gear is also ignorant of this. I don't need to use it's call forwarding setting.
I don't doubt that T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon will eventually get all the kinks worked out of their number sharing system. But Google has been at it for a few years and offers more features, flexibility, and gives power back to the user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well THAT certainly cleared up the question...

REALLY PISSED OFF!! Over a week now and TMob STILL can't fix whatever THEIR problem is with getting this watch to use voice! They were really happy to take my money though! SO PISSED!!

So today it actually.worked! With the phone off!
Then it stopped.

Wrote the CEO of TMob and got an answer in 2 days. Seems not all of their networks supports Voice-over-LTG on 4G lines so it doesn't work everywhere (or something like that). Like where I am. They are hoping the Tizen 3.0 will correct that so the watch accepts a.lower quality line but not sure. Outstanding...
UPDATE 15 Oct - if I ran the watch as truly stand alone it would work. By using DIGITS it only uses 3G, which my area does not have. More info.

Question Can the watch 4 make calls without a phone?

Hey guys.
So for the past month I've been trying to get the watch to work independently to make calls using the 4G version of the watch of course.
As the watch asks which number to text/call from I generally assumed it would be able to call using the number attached to the esim that was uploaded to it.
In the UK I'm with O2 and they currently only suggest using a data only SIM to remote connect to your phone in order to place a call.
I eventually convinced them to setup an esim with a minutes and SMS allowance but the watch suggested that only emergency calls were possible.
So my question is can the Watch 4 make calls using its own number without being connected to a phone whatsoever?

Sonic Dash said:
Hey guys.
So for the past month I've been trying to get the watch to work independently to make calls using the 4G version of the watch of course.
As the watch asks which number to text/call from I generally assumed it would be able to call using the number attached to the esim that was uploaded to it.
In the UK I'm with O2 and they currently only suggest using a data only SIM to remote connect to your phone in order to place a call.
I eventually convinced them to setup an esim with a minutes and SMS allowance but the watch suggested that only emergency calls were possible.
So my question is can the Watch 4 make calls using its own number without being connected to a phone whatsoever?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course - that's what the LTE version is for.

Sonic Dash said:
Hey guys.
So for the past month I've been trying to get the watch to work independently to make calls using the 4G version of the watch of course.
As the watch asks which number to text/call from I generally assumed it would be able to call using the number attached to the esim that was uploaded to it.
In the UK I'm with O2 and they currently only suggest using a data only SIM to remote connect to your phone in order to place a call.
I eventually convinced them to setup an esim with a minutes and SMS allowance but the watch suggested that only emergency calls were possible.
So my question is can the Watch 4 make calls using its own number without being connected to a phone whatsoever?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need phone only first time to set up data plan. Without phone you can't directly add number to watch.
But once added (and you can add multiple) there is dependcy on phone.
You can store multiple plans on watch and switch it to required number directly from watch