Wear OS

[RyanBlakeIT]

Provide realistic updates on the status of Wear OS support instead of the typical deflecting scripted replies.

If you are going to offer eSIM for Apple Watch, then you need to offer it for Android's Wear OS, too.  Your parent company, Verizon, does so it's not a technical limitation.

Otherwise Android users feel like second class Visible citizens.

[agnius]

I had good luck with Visible on iPhone and Pixel 4 but it became useless when my device of choice didn't function (Sony Xperia 1 mk3). Then after Visible Core move to Verizon phone started working again. Before getting Xperia to work was like banging head against the wall - "device is unsupported". So if my Pixel watch (or Galaxy 5) doesn't start working any time soon I'll be jumping ship for service that does support them - simple as that. Visible, get your act together with device compatibility or don't be surprised when customers leave. And no, I will not be switching to Verizon pre/postpaid.

[Anonymous]

This is definitely something I am actively seeking as well. At some point it will be a deal breaker to keeping the service if Visible doesn't add support for watches like Pixel Watch

[Anonymous]

Well, I actually came up with a solution

...but its not going to work for everyone.  If you order the Pixel Watch 2 directly from the Google store before 1/20/24 they give you 2 free years of Google Fi data for it (doesnt require google fi phone plan).  So I can use that for the watch for free and visible for my phone.  Will re-eval in 2yr, hopefully visible will have added pixel watch support by then.

[RyanBlakeIT]

@Anonymous - Interesting, but will you end up with a separate phone number when calling from your watch as opposed to your phone?  Are you able to receive inbound calls to your cell phone on your watch?

[Anonymous]

@RyanBlakeIT its data only, no voice .  So cant take a call on LTE but could do data stuff like stream spotify over LTE when running.  Given the watch is $50 off and basically $120 of free watch service ($5 x24 months) I'll take that tradeoff

[mikey1273]

@DS-VisibleMgr Any updates on Android wearable services?  I am very interested in getting my watch 6 Classic on LTE. I would also be willing to work with you all to beta test if that were to be helpful. I really like the simplicity and value of Visible. I feel like including this service would make it better and even more competitive.

[taz420nj]

@DS-VisibleMgrHello? BUELLER? Why is it that this is such a taboo topic for you? You have been avoiding giving ANY answers for literally YEARS now. Did Apple pay y'all behind the scenes to lock out Android under NDA or something? Because we all know there is no technical or contractual limitation. You are not a MVNO that is subject to limitations imposed by the host carrier, you are Verizon - and Verizon supports Android watches.  This kind of shady radio silence on something this simple makes it very hard to recommend you to others. I have the Visible+ plan which I should be able to put my watch on free, but becsuse of your games I still have to pay T-mobile for a separate plan. You should be giving us a $10/mo credit for not being able to use something we are paying for.

[mikey1273]

Agree with Taz. This has gone on a while I am on the original Visible+ plan with the $10 discount so i'm paying $35 and keep getting invites to upgrade to the new Visible+ 2.0 plan so I can get a smart watch included. Then the fine print says apple watches only are currently supported.  I'd pay the extra ten bucks in a heartbeat if I could use my Galaxy Watch 6 classic in LTE not just BT and wifi but it's not worth it to move until for the faster hotspot or anything else for me. 

Another thing I noticed is Visible is offering to switch people to eSim in the visible app. I looked into that because my S23fe unlocked supports that but Visible only supports eSim on iPhones not Android.  This has me thinking that is the root of the issue. All smart watches, Apple included use eSim. If they have not set up support for eSim on Android devices on their systems it seems maybe that is why we don't have smart watch support for Wear OS. 

[RyanBlakeIT]

Hi @mikey1273 - They actually do support eSIM for Android. I have a Pixel 8 Pro and I'm using eSIM right now without issue. Others in my family with newer phones also have eSIM enabled as well. Just wanted to be sure you were aware.

[Anonymous]

@taz420nj  @mikey1273 @RyanBlakeIT 

I am noticing a lot, if not all, other Verizon-based MVNOs only support Apple Watch as well.

It might be a strategy on Verzion's part to upsell you to the full price Verizon service.  They may feel that not enough people have WearOS watches that it would deter MVNOs from opening up shop, while also believing that those that do are more of the hardcore techie type that would be more willing to pay for full price Verizon rather than a lower priced MVNO.  Verizon essentially saying, "hey if you want to use that shiny new Pixel Watch 2 on Verizon network you're gonna have to pay up!"  Kind of a rough sell though given T-Mobile's 5G dominance and Visible's orientation towards people who can function without any live phone or in-person support, not sure Verizon is as comparably great as it used to be to hold WearOS hostage to their full price tiers and Visible customers would be exactly the type to use WearOS given Visible only has e-support.

In other words, this may actually be Verizon's fault. But since Visible is owned by Verizon anyway, I'm not sure it matters which of the two is to blame.  If its not fixed though by the time by free Google Fi watch plan runs out, I prob will jump ship to Google Fi.