Android Wear now works with iOS

Up until now, the only smartwatch that has worked with iOS is the Apple Watch. Apple is known for its closed-off ecosystem, so it was not surprising to see that wearables running Android Wear would not work with iPhones. Google on Monday announced an iOS app that allows Apple's smartphones to pair with Wear devices, and it is currently only compatible with the LG Watch Urbane. However, all upcoming Android Wear smartwatches will also be supported.

Most of the key features will be available, such as saying "OK, Google" in order to trigger voice recognition. Some other features include getting directions, using Google Now, tracking fitness data, and receiving notifications. Something that may dissuade iPhone users from picking up an Android Wear watch is the fact that the wearables will not have access to the Apple Watch app store. 

Google is hoping that by offering iOS support, iPhone users will decide to purchase an Android Wear watch rather than an Apple Watch, taking revenue from the Cupertino-based tech giant. As Apple's September 9th event date approaches, more and more companies are doing whatever they can to lure customers into using their devices, and this could help Google a lot if the support is well-implemented.

Source(s)