WhatsApp has launched its standalone smartwatch app for Google’s Wear OS.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, on Wednesday, made an announcement about the launch of the WhatsApp app for Wear OS. This new app enables users to initiate new conversations, respond to messages, and make VoIP calls without the need for their connected phone to be nearby.
The rollout of this app begins today, and it is available to users worldwide. To use it, one needs a smartwatch running on Wear OS 3. With this app, users can conveniently send and receive text and voice messages, utilize emojis, and send quick replies directly from their wrist, making communication more accessible and seamless.
Google made the announcement about the release of the WhatsApp Wear OS app at its developer-focused I/O conference in May. The app was initially released as a beta version and was anticipated to be publicly available soon after.
During the I/O keynote, Google revealed an array of enhancements to Wear OS, including new and improved apps from third-party companies like Spotify and Peloton. Additionally, Google announced updates to its own apps, such as Google Home, Gmail, and Calendar, with the aim of providing a refreshed and improved experience for Wear OS-based smartwatches.
In contrast, Apple’s watchOS currently lacks a standalone WhatsApp app, leading to a limited user experience on the Apple Watch. Unlike Wear OS, Apple Watch users don’t have a native option to send messages or make calls via WhatsApp directly from their smartwatches. Instead, they can view incoming messages and respond to them on the watch screen if the appropriate notification settings have been enabled on their paired iPhone. Nevertheless, despite this limitation, the Apple Watch continues to dominate the overall smartwatch market for an extended period.
In response, Google is actively working to challenge the Apple Watch’s dominance by focusing on improving Wear OS. The efforts include collaborating with new manufacturers, introducing new apps, and enhancing user experiences on the platform. At the I/O keynote, Google proudly declared Wear OS as the fastest-growing smartwatch platform globally, noting a remarkable five-fold growth since the release of Wear OS 3 in 2021.
