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WhatsApp has finally unveiled its standalone app for smartwatches running Google’s Wear OS, following much anticipation and months of beta testing.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the highly-anticipated launch of the WhatsApp app for Wear OS, enabling users to initiate new conversations, respond to messages, and make VoIP calls without the need for their connected phone.
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Rolling out globally starting today, the app is compatible with smartwatches running Wear OS 3. It empowers users to effortlessly send and receive text and voice messages, emojis, and quick replies directly from their wrist.
During the developer-focused I/O conference in May, Google introduced the forthcoming release of WhatsApp’s Wear OS app. After an initial beta version, it has now become available to the public.
Google also showcased enhanced Wear OS apps from third-party companies like Spotify and Peloton, and revealed updates to its own apps such as Google Home, Gmail, and Calendar, delivering a refreshed experience to Wear OS-based smartwatches.
In contrast, Apple’s watchOS does not have a standalone WhatsApp app. This results in Apple Watch users experiencing limitations and lacking a native option to send messages or make WhatsApp calls from the smartwatch.
Nevertheless, users can view incoming messages and respond to them via the Apple Watch’s screen if they’ve enabled appropriate notification settings on their iPhone. Despite this, Apple Watch has maintained its dominance in the smartwatch market.
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In a bid to challenge Apple’s watchOS supremacy, Google is continuously enhancing Wear OS, collaborating with new manufacturers, and introducing fresh apps and experiences to the platform.
The Android maker proudly announced that Wear OS is the fastest-growing smartwatch platform globally, with a five-fold growth since the release of Wear OS 3 in 2021.
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