After months of beta testing, WhatsApp has finally released its standalone app for smartwatches running Google’s Wear OS.
On Wednesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the debut of the WhatsApp software for Wear OS, which would allow users to initiate new chats, reply to messages, and make VoIP calls without having to carry their linked phone with them.
The app, which is now available to customers worldwide, is compatible with Wear OS 3 smartwatches. Users can send and receive text and voice messages, as well as emoticons and rapid responses, directly from their wrists.
Google announced the introduction of WhatsApp’s Wear OS software at its developer-focused I/O conference in May. The software was initially released as a beta version, with the expectation that it would publicly be made freely available soon after.
Also, see:
Apple is testing a ChatGPT-like AI chatbot
Overall Crypto Market Showing Sluggish Sentiment, Bitcoin, Ether Register Dips
During the I/O conference, Google also revealed new and better Wear OS apps from third-party firms like Spotify and Peloton, as well as upgrades to its own apps such as Google Home, Gmail, and Calendar, in order to provide an updated experience to Wear OS-based smartwatches.
In contrast, to Wear OS, Apple’s watch OS currently lacks a dedicated WhatsApp app. This means that Apple Watch users have a limited experience, such as no native option to send messages or make calls over WhatsApp via the timepiece. Apple, on the other hand, allows you to view and respond to incoming messages on your Apple Watch’s screen if you have enabled suitable notification settings on your iPhone. Nonetheless, the Apple Watch has dominated the total smartwatch market for a long time.
Google is attempting to challenge Apple Watch’s dominance by enhancing Wear OS, adding more manufacturers, and introducing new apps and experiences to the platform. During the I/O keynote, Google declared Wear OS to be the fastest-growing smartwatch platform in the world, with a five-fold increase since the release of Wear OS 3 in 2021.
