Pebble smartwatches can now use Android Wear apps

We’re getting closer and closer to the highly-anticipated Apple Watch launch and many companies are trying to beef up their own smartwatch offerings in anticipation. One such company is Pebble which has announced that its own platform is now compatible with apps that have been developed for Google’s Android Wear operating system. This is certainly a good move on Pebble’s part if they want to be able to compete against Apple. 

Smartwatch maker Pebble’s platform is now compatible with apps for Google’s Android Wear operating system, letting users see and respond to notifications from their wrists. The functionality was made generally available on Monday, after having been beta tested since December. Notifications is the basic building block of Android Wear, and what users can do and see on smartwatches running Google’s OS can now be replicated on Pebble’s products. Pebble has posted two videos showing how users can reply to a Google Hangout message and approve money transactions via Square Cash. During the beta test, Pebble also added pre-defined replies to notifications, making it easier to reply direct from the smartwatch. To be able to use the Android Wear integration, Pebble owners have to update the firmware on their watch and download the latest version of the company’s smartphone app for Android.