Samsung and Google Preview Wearable Platform - Galaxy Watch News

Samsung Showcases Wearable Innovations at Mobile World Congress

Samsung’s presence at this year’s Mobile World Congress centered heavily on advancements in wearable technology. The primary announcement during the event was a detailed preview of a redesigned user interface for the Galaxy Watch series.

Introducing One UI Watch

The new interface, named One UI Watch, draws its design inspiration from the Galaxy mobile interface found on the company’s smartphones. This upcoming iteration of One UI Watch is scheduled to launch at a future Unpacked event later this summer. It will feature the new UI alongside a collaborative platform developed jointly by Samsung and Google.

The initial unveiling of this partnership occurred last month at Google I/O. While specifics remain limited, the collaboration signifies a significant step forward in wearable technology.

A Unified Platform for Developers

The core objective of this partnership is to establish a “unified platform.” This platform will empower developers to create a single application compatible with both Google’s Wear OS and Tizen, Samsung’s long-standing open-source operating system for smartwatches. Previously, app development posed a substantial challenge for both companies in their efforts to compete with Apple’s market dominance.

A key benefit of this system is automatic app installation. Once an app compatible with a smartwatch is downloaded onto a paired smartphone, it will also be installed on the watch itself. This includes popular applications such as Spotify, Calm, Strava, Adidas Running, and Sleep Cycle, in addition to Google’s own apps like Maps and YouTube Music.

Statements from Google

According to Sameer Samat, SVP at Google, “Samsung and Google share a history of successful collaboration, consistently delivering enhanced experiences for consumers.” He further stated, “This new, unified platform exemplifies that synergy, and will debut on Samsung’s next Galaxy Watch. We are excited to offer extended battery life, improved performance, and a broader app selection, including numerous Google applications, within a completely new wearable experience.”

Strategic Alliance Against Apple

This partnership may appear unconventional considering Samsung’s previous decision to move away from Google’s wearable operating system in favor of a customized version of Tizen. However, it appears both companies are aligning against the leading market share held by Apple, which currently controls approximately 40% of the global market. While Samsung holds the second position, Google, even with the acquisition of Fitbit, still faces considerable ground to cover.

Enhanced Development Tools

Samsung also intends to demonstrate improved development tools designed to simplify the creation of elements like watch faces for the platform.

These tools will provide developers with greater flexibility and efficiency in customizing the Galaxy Watch experience.