There have been rumors in the past that Google is working to add iPhone support to Android Wear, this will allow countless smartwatches to be compatible with Apple’s smartphones. A new report has been published today which claims that Google is actually “close” to wrapping up the final technical details which would Android Wear smartwatches to work with the iPhone.
Apple will certainly have a say in this. If Android Wear iPhone support arrives it would put those smartwatches in direct competition with the Apple Watch, which is due to be released later this month. The Apple Watch will work only with the iPhone and allowing people to use other smartwatches with its device can pose a threat to the sales of its first smartwatch.
The Verge reports, citing a source close to the development team, that Android Wear currently works with a companion app on the iPhone. Support for basic features like notifications is present as well as for Google Now’s information cards, voice search and other actions.
No matter how many features Google gets to work it all depends on whether Apple allows the companion app. Since there’s no way to sideload an app on the iPhone, and with no jailbreak in sight, if Apple doesn’t let the app through it won’t allow Android Wear smartwatches to work with its smartphone.
When asked by the scribe Apple declined to comment for the report, and Google said that it has nothing to announce at this point in time.
Filed in . Read more about Android Wear, Google, iPhone and Wearable Tech.