How to take calls on your smart watch

Learn how to stay in touch on the go even when your phone's not with you. We look at how the latest smart watches offer freedom while staying connected to what matters to you.

A smart watch is the ultimate companion if you live life in the fast lane. Strapped to your wrist and most likely Bluetooth accessible, you can take your calls wherever you go without using a mobile, as long as your smart watch has a SIM connected to a mobile network or is connected to your phone via Bluetooth. Let’s take a closer look at how easy it is to make and receive calls from the convenience of your wristwatch.

How does a smart watch make and receive calls without a SIM card?

Good question.

Some smart watches, not all, come with something called an eSIM (read more about eSIMs). An eSIM  (embedded SIM) is a type ofSIM card that is already built into your device, be it a smartphone, tablet or smart watch. 

Gone are the days of fiddling around with tiny SIMs and prying out SIM cards with fingernails from the depths of your phone. Instead, you can simply download the digital eSIM from Optus straight onto your device.

What are the benefits of an eSIM?

Plenty. For phones, it means you can turn your one SIM phone into a dual SIM device*. For smart watches, an eSIM and the corresponding phone number can be shared between your phone and your smart watch, which is how you make and receive calls from your device. 

*In some 5G capable phones, you won’t be able to access the Optus 5G network if you have an eSIM and a physical SIM active at the same time. Find more information and a list of affected phones here.

Why aren’t all smart watches call-capable?

Some smart watches aren’t built to house eSIMs and aren’t Bluetooth enabled so cannot receive or make calls. Those smart watches are used for more simple uses, like tracking your exercise or telling the time. Fortunately, all smart watches we offer are eSIM capable and are connected to the Optus Mobile Network if you sign up to a Connected Watch Plan with us, meaning you can stay in touch 24/7 without having to take your phone with you. In fact, all of our smart watches come as part of a data SIM plan.

What are some scenarios where you might need to call or receive calls from a smart watch?

To understand why this technology is such a breakthrough, let’s dive a little deeper and suss out some scenarios where this smart watch tech is not just convenient but potentially life-saving. 

• For convenience sake, having your smart watch on you all the time means if you forget or misplace your phone, you still have the ability to call out. Forgot that lunchtime meeting? Waiting for a call from grandma? Fear not, you’ve got a portable, stylish phone strapped tightly to your wrist. 
• Perhaps you’re in an important meeting and don’t want to look unprofessional by slyly getting your phone out of your pocket. With a smart watch, you can see all your important call and messages via your wrist.
• Maybe you’ve found yourself in a precarious situation and are in need of emergency services but can’t reach or find your phone. If you’ve got a smart watch strapped to your wrist, dialling out and your geographical location are both accessible. 

Similarly, if your elderly relative has taken a fall and can’t get up or reach the phone, their smart watch can not only detect when they’ve had a fall (read more about fall detectors in smart watches) but can also alert emergency services and call you to tell you where they are and if they’re hurt. 

If you’ve read this and thought, “yeah, I could really do with a smart watch” we’ve got good news for you. Here at Optus, we love our portable devices, so we’ve got a wonderful  range of smart watches for your perusal. Not only that but our call-capable smart watches come with an inbuilt eSIM and plan.