Google is once again making innovation in the smartwatch market as the tech giant recently released an update to its Android Wear platform that enables it to support cellular networks.
The support for cellular connectivity is a crucial feature for smartwatches since they usually depends on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to its synced smartphone.
Google posted on its official blog, "As long as your watch and phone are connected to a cellular network, you'll be able to use your watch to send and receive messages, track fitness, get answers from Google and run your favorite apps. And yes, you'll even be able to make and take calls right from your watch, for when your hands are full, or your phone is elsewhere."
The cellular network support for Android Wear devices means that new hardware components are needed in order for it to properly function. This means that not all smartwatches running on the Android Wear platform can use the new cellular network feature.
The first smartwatch to support cellular network is the LG Watch Urbane Second Edition LTE which was launched on Nov. 11. It is the first and only smartwatch with built-in cellular network support.
The LG Watch Urbane Second Edition LTE can be purchased online from AT&T. According to CNet, the smartwatch will hit retail stores at the end of the week. The watch will be available for preorder from Verizon on Nov. 12 and will hit Verizon retail stores on Nov. 19.
Off contract, the LG Watch Urbane 2 Second Edition LTE will cost $299 on AT&T while its Verizon counterpart will cost $499