Smartwatch maker Pebble last night announced a new feature coming to the Pebble Time, Pebble Time Steel, and Pebble Time Round line of smartwatches that will allow users to send abbreviated text messages to friends and family through iOS (via Engadget). Called "Text Reply for iOS," the beta feature will mark Pebble as the first non-Apple Watch smartwatch to introduce voice and text replies linked with an iPhone.

If eligible, the company says that the feature will allow users to send voice messages and "pre-defined" text messages to other iPhone users. Currently limited exclusively to AT&T customers, Pebble mentioned that it's working to expand carrier support for the feature in the future, but gave those who can currently take advantage of the system a detailed step-by-step list of instructions.

Pebble Time

To get started with iOS Text Reply, follow these steps:

-Update your Pebble Time iPhone app to version 3.4 or higher.
-After updating the iPhone app, update your Pebble Time’s firmware to version 3.7 or higher. Select Menu » Support » Update Your Pebble if you aren’t prompted automatically.
-From the iOS app, navigate to Menu » Settings » Actionable Notifications to set up Text Replies for the first time.
-Follow the setup instructions.
-After successful setup, notifications received from the Messages app will have the option to reply with voice or a list of pre-defined responses.
-Note: Successfully sent Pebble replies will NOT appear in the iOS Messages app. The reply is sent as an SMS through AT&T directly, and not the Messages app.

There are some limits to its functionality, however. Pebble Time owners who want to get in on iOS messaging -- and eventually use the full-featured Text Reply system -- must be on a postpaid AT&T data plan. Once activated, the feature sends replies from the Pebble "through your wireless carrier," meaning that the Pebble user's side of the conversation won't appear in Apple's threaded iOS Messages app. The replies are also sent as SMS messages, not Apple's traditional iMessage alternative, so some possible carrier charges may be applied.

Check out Pebble's full Q&A on the new Text Reply for iOS feature to learn about more of its functionalities.

Tags: Pebble, Pebble Time

Top Rated Comments

DCYorke Avatar
DCYorke
129 months ago
Basically for green bubbles only. Does anyone even use SMS these days?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
burnout8488 Avatar
burnout8488
129 months ago
This sounds like a case of "If you can't do it right, don't do it at all."
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
levitynyc Avatar
levitynyc
129 months ago
So much effort to simply send a message. Just pull your phone out of your pocket for 8 seconds.

Why bother?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
burnout8488 Avatar
burnout8488
129 months ago
Who cares if it is green or blue? It is childish to judge others based on phone choice.
Their post was not judgmental at all. They are referring to the decline of SMS as users trend towards data-based messaging.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
h4ck Avatar
h4ck
129 months ago
My family has a mix of Android, iOS, and Windows. So yes, SMS is used.:)
i just told people i won't text them if it's green. i like my communications encrypted.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gigapocket1 Avatar
gigapocket1
129 months ago
I don't think I've ever seen anyone even wearing these watches
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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