Samsung is looking to open up its new Gear S2 smartwatch for iOS users, a company spokesman has revealed.
Until the launch of the Gear S2, Samsung's smartwatches were exclusively for users of the company's smartphones. But the company has opened things up to users of Android 4.4 and newer – and now it seem like the company could take a leaf out of Android Wear's book and and create a companion app for iOS as well.
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"We are looking at possibilities to open it up to iOS. Because we opened it up to Android, we are looking at this," a spokesman told DigitalSpy.
We got hands on with the new Gear S2 at IFA last week, and it's certainly got the potential to be a huge hit for the company. Enabling wider Android users to use the smartwatch was a no-brainer, but it should be noted that the move to iPhone won't be so easy.
Firstly, it might not be technically possible – at least not without a major update. At the briefing Samsung revealed that due to some API issues, not all Android handsets are compatible, which could rule out iPhones altogether.
However, even if Samsung can overcome the technical challenges of getting its platform talking with iOS, it may fall foul of Apple's restrictions. Apple won't allow rival app stores on its platform, which suddenly impacts the 1,000 Tizen apps currently in the Gear S2's line-up.
Of course, the company could implement some kind of web interface, by-passing the iPhone altogether but for those wondering why Samsung can't just flip the iOS on-switch, it could take time to iron out these issues.
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James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.