Google may be trying to make Android Wear, the software it developed to power smartwatches and other wearable devices, compatible with Apple's iPhones. At least, as indicated by certain reports.
For instance, The Verge published an exclusive report that the tech giant is indeed planning to make its Android Wear software work with rival Apple's most popular mobile device. Specifically, Google will be incorporating support for Apple's iOS software and Wi-Fi particularly in the next iteration of Android Wear, which could be launched in the coming weeks.
It can definitely be considered a wise move for Google, although a bit gutsy. If the objective is to increase the tech giant's already formidable customer base, then the decision to make Android Wear work with iPhone devices would be very strategic. iPhones, after all, are very popular products, with a very large number of users worldwide. During the final quarter of 2014 alone, 66.5 million units of iPhones were sold across the globe. If iPhone owners start to pair their handsets with Android Wear devices, it would be a sort of victory for Google.
Android Wear was first introduced by Google back in March 2014. During Google's I/O developer conference held last year, the company demonstrated how Android Wear can integrate with automobile services and even track users' heart rates. The team of developers and technicians behind the wearable operating system stated their intentions of updating Android Wear frequently, as its application expands and as more people use it. Last September, Google even announced that it would let Android Wear connect with devices by way of Bluetooth, which allows devices nearby to send data to each other.
There are already a handful of wearable devices that run on Android Wear. Samsung offers the Gear S, Sony has its Sony Smartwatch line, while Motorola boasts its Moto 360. And in the recently concluded Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, LG officially introduced its LG Watch Urbane, while Huawei also unveiled its Huawei Watch (featuring sapphire glass).
So far, there have been already 720,000 units of wearable devices shipped that run on Google's Android Wear system. That is equivalent to 15.6 percent of the total volume of wearable products shipped last year, which is 4.6 million (based on data collected by Canalys).
But wearable devices -- smartwatches in particular -- are on the verge of hitting mainstream status. Big credit, of course, goes to Apple whose first ever wearable device, the Apple Watch, is generating a lot of buzz lately, not only for fans of wearables but also for casual mobile device users too. The Apple Watch will start to become available for preordering beginning April 10th, and will officially launch worldwide on April 24th.
Apple fans are known to be the type that sticks to Apple products all the way. But there is bound to be a few willing to use pair their iPhone with a wearable device that is not made by Apple. For these people, the new iPhone-compatible Android Wear will just be waiting on the wings.
