Android Wear gains support for cellular connectivity

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Published 12 Nov 2015

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Disclosure

LG Watch Urbane 2nd edition

Google today announced that it is bringing cellular support to Android Wear with the launch of the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition. 

The inclusion of a cellular modem makes it possible for the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition to stay connected to your Android device even when the devices are not in each other’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth range. It also makes it possible to use the watch to reply to messages, receive calls, use apps, or do a Google Search without the smartwatch being tethered to a smartphone.

LG has already announced that it will be bringing the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition to customers in Korea and the U.S. from this month, with rollout in other key markets to follow.

It is unlikely that Google will rollout a new Android Wear update for existing smartwatches out there since they lack any kind of integrated modem to take advantage of this new functionality being introduced in the OS.

[Via Official Android Blog]