Apple watch can now be used mobile on O2 - so why not giffgaff?

wozgilbert

Apple watch can now be used mobile on O2 - so why not giffgaff?
This has been a deal-breaker for me since the "cellular" capability was announced to be EE only in the UK. I'd rather set myself afire than use EE. But now it's on O2, so close but so far. Or should I just leave giffgaff at this time ( I know you don't need to have both on the same network, but I don't want 2 numbers for my phone and watch separately.)

endorphin

wozgilbert eSIM support will be coming in 2020 according to Steve McDonald, giffgaff's CTO:

Steve McDonald
We should be beta testing our first iteration of eSIM over the next couple of months. Over the course of 2020 we’ll be looking at making it as easy as possible to use.

from here https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33032329-catch-up-with-nov-12th-s-q-a-with-the-cto

In the meantime you could use iOS' Continuity feature to connect your iPhone SIM with your Apple watch.

davidvarley

wozgilbert
The only way around the problem would to be get a none apple smart watch eg Samsung watch.

wozgilbert

So if I purchased a mobile capable (cellular) Apple Watch, but used it like it was a GPS only version until the esim functionality is rolled out, I would be ready in 2020 to pick-up on the service as it launches?
This would be particularly useful as my wife is out of contract with Three and would like to have a watch with mobile functionality and I'd be happy to bring her into the giffgaff fold!

endorphin

wozgilbert I would be ready in 2020 to pick-up on the service as it launches?

Yes if all goes to plan. However there is no hard date scheduled!

davek89

O2 and giffgaff are the same company. O2 is the premium brand and giffgaff the economy brand, so it makes business sense to keep the premium services with O2 and delay the rollout on giffgaff for a while. It will come to giffgaff eventually but only once it's sufficiently widespread that they think they'll make more profit by extending it to giffgaff than keeping it O2 only.