Will epix 2 get calling phone capability?

Only Garmin know, but call functionality would use more battery.

Personally I dont think its needed, since I would normally just press the button on my Bluetooth headset and make calls that way through the phone.

However, what I would like to see, is to be able to reply to txt messages using the already built in keyboard. It currently appears when you go to rename a new activity profile.

I'm sure it could be coded to pop up for txt replies as an alternative option to using the preset ones.

It can already answer calls as long as you have a bluetooth headset attached to the phone, and technically if your bluetooth headset has voice recognition like Shokz aeropex/openrun it can technically get Siri/Google to make a call.

But no your Epix and Fenix 7 will never get the ability to do so without using a headset as they don't have a mic and they don't have a speaker - so will never get the functionality that the Venu 2 plus has. The watch can already accept/reject calls - and when accepting it will open the call on your phone - so just have to press loudspeaker button or if headset is connected to phone, can then hear/talk via that.

I suspect they could get the watch to initiate calls on Android via the available API - but see already mentioned contstraints, and as unilkely to be able to do so on iPhone (due to Apple constraints - and already mentioned constraints) - it just really doesn't make it worth it.

It won't.  The epix 2 would need to have lte built into the phone chipset already. There is a chance however they already did and it will be enabled later with a software update.  I strongly doubt it though.  That would probably be a feature on the epix 3, if at all.  My $0.02.

Yes, because of waterproofness these outdoor wearable will not get mic/speaker.

jaamgans said:

But no your Epix and Fenix 7 will never get the ability to do so without using a headset as they don't have a mic and they don't have a speaker

I realize that. My question was whether there's any chance Garmin would add that hardware to a future Epix, thus enabling phone calling/answering.

net1994 said:

The epix 2 would need to have lte built into the phone chipset already.

I wasn't referring to LTE-enabled phone calling. Just the ability to use the watch as a phone while your phone is in your pocket. And I'm not talking about a software update, but a hardware update in a future gen3 model. Which is probably two years away. It would be a killer watch if it did have that capability.

I guess the 100m is the main issue here for mic/speaker... haven't seen any 10 ATM watches with mic/speaker so far

That would not seem to a technologically unsolvable problem. 

Perhaps without a speaker/mic on the device itself, but with an external headset would be a possibility…