Despite the fact that this wearable technology is designed to function cross-platform, iPhone 7 won’t pair.
The Apple Watch may be designed exclusively for iOS, but Android Wear smartwatches are meant to work regardless of the platform. That said, a growing number of reports have been submitted by consumers saying the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus won’t connect.
Mobile device users are able to pair the gadgets as far as the accept message screen on an iPhone 7.
That said, they seem to be unable to move beyond that point when pairing Android Wear smartwatches. This suggests that there is a failure in the Bluetooth pairing process at one point or another. Google has now released an official list of the specific devices that have been reported to have challenges connecting with iPhone 7 generation smartphones.
Among those on the list currently include the Moto 360 Sport, the Moto 360 2nd Gen, the Asus ZenWatch 2, the Fossil Q Founder and the TAG Heuer Connected. That said, unofficial lists are popping up all over the web which include other Android Wear based gadgets.
It is not yet known why this specific problem is occurring between Android Wear smartwatches and iPhone 7.
Current speculations are that it has to do with the smartphone, itself and not the new iOS 10 operating system. Google is investigating the matter and will soon release a fix for this problem.
It should be noted that while Android Wear based wearable technology devices will pair with iOS, they do so with limited functionality. This is especially true when it comes to the Google Now features. As Google Now is the primary draw to the Android Wear operating system, it does show a reduced appeal for iPhone users to begin with.
As of the writing of this article, Google does not yet know exactly when it will have the fix ready for the Android Wear smartwatches. It is required to determine the source of the issue before it can put together fix that will repair it. The goal is to have it available within the very near future.
Companies throughout that region are taking a closer look at wearable technology and are making investments.
Businesses throughout the Middle East are starting to look at wearables more seriously and this is being reflected in the growing investment that is being seen in these types of mobile devices.
That said, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any more barriers in the way of the growth of this industry.
Organizations throughout the Middle East are increasingly starting to build business models based on the use of werables. Predictions from industry analysts are suggesting that over the next three years there will be substantial growth seen in the use and investment into wearable technology. Among the reasons that this industry is being driven forward is that there is a broader availability to the type of devices and features that are available, but also they are becoming more familiar.
As certain types of wearables become more mainstream, it opens the door to the adoption of others.
The region is about to see the launch of a whole new wave of everything from smartwatches to virtual reality headsets and even connected clothing. As a result, the wearable technology market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to see a growth rate of 56 percent from 2016 through 2019. This according to forecasts released by IDC.
The fact that wearable technology devices are convenient, lightweight and small forms of mobile gadgets that allow people to complete various types of task either hands free or at least without having to take their smartphones out of their pockets, they have a considerable draw within the business community. Smartwatches are drawing a particularly large amount of attention as they can act as scaled down versions of smartphones combined with fitness trackers.
IDC MEA analyst, Feras Ibrahim explained that while the market for wearables is seeing a substantial growth, the hurdles that are still faced should not be forgotten or overlooked. Among the leading issues standing in the way is in the limited number of apps that are geared toward these tiny screen devices. Moreover, many of the designs are clunky or require a premium price point for a device that would suit business attire.
