TORONTO — Starting Monday, December 14, Apple’s Canadian customers will be able to use the Family Setup feature on Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 or later, through a software update to watchOS 7.2 or iOS 14.3.
Family Setup allows Apple Watch to be set up through a parent’s iPhone, so kids or other family members who don’t have an iPhone can still benefit from the features of Apple Watch, says the company’s press release.
“We’re pleased to partner with Apple to be the first in Canada to offer Family Setup,” said Claire Gillies, president of Bell Mobility, in the press release. “Family Setup is an ideal solution for family members without an iPhone to benefit from the communication, health, fitness and safety features of Apple Watch. We’re excited to offer Bell customers this new way to help them stay connected.”
Family members using Family Setup have their own Apple ID and phone number through a separate cellular plan (currently available through Bell in Canada), allowing them to take advantage of the many features, apps and communication tools on Apple Watch, while parents have the ability to approve all contacts, explains the press release.
In addition, with watchOS 7.2, users can take advantage of optimized features for older adults, adding to the set of health and safety tools currently available, including fall detection and irregular heart rhythm notifications.
Apple first announced in September that Family Setup would be available as a free software update to watchOS 7 and iOS 14, at the same time the company launched the new Apple Watch SE.
For more information, please click here.
