Users of Wear OS smartwatches can now go a step further from just receiving WhatsApp notifications on their wrists to doing a lot more with the popular messenger app. This is after the official release of the WhatsApp app on Wear OS, the platform for wearables from Google (based on Android) that was once known as Android Wear.
The app that was released a few days ago had been in beta testing since Google I/O back in May when Google had announced its impending launch and availability.
The WhatsApp app for Wear OS allows users to start new chats, send and receive text and voice messages, reply to messages, make and receive voice calls and use emoji, stickers and quick replies, all from their wrists without needing to have their smartwatch connected to a smartphone. They can also view images, block and report chats and users, mute chats and send reactions.
WhatsApp for Wear OS is available for download and installation from the Google Play Store. However, it will only be visible on the Play Store from one’s phone if the phone and their Wear OS smartwatch are linked at the time, in which case they will get an option to download the app to their watch. Once downloaded and installed, one uses the link feature to link the app on their watch to that on their phone. The phone number in use on the phone is what will be used for the smartwatch app.
The app can only be downloaded and installed on smartwatches running Wear OS 3 and later versions.
At Google I/O 2 months ago, Google said that Wear OS was the fastest-growing smartwatch platform in the world having grown five times since the launch of Wear OS 3 more than 2 years ago.
The search giant also claimed that WearOS is the fastest-growing smartwatch platform in the world. The company said the platform has grown five times since Wear OS 3 launched in 2021.
Wear OS 3 was a turning point for Google’s wearables platform as it saw it get a big revamp as well as merge with Samsung’s own wearable effort.
The release of WhatsApp on Wear OS at this time comes just days before Samsung is expected to announce its next-generation smartwatch series which is powered by the platform and will definitely have support for it right out of the box.
The WhatsApp app for wearables is not yet available on Apple’s platforms. Google’s Wear OS is the first smartwatch platform to get the app.
