Sony to sidestep Google’s Android Wear OS for its own Android wearables

Sony will not use Google’s recently announced Android Wear operating system for its wearable devices, like the SmartWatch 2, the company has reportedly confirmed to CNET.

According to the report, head of Sony Mobile in the US Ravi Nookala, said that rather than use Android Wear, the company would persevere with its own SmartWatch platform – which is based on Android, but provides its own app store – after having already invested time and resources in the initiative.

The move is in sharp contrast to rival device makers like LG and Motorola, both of which have already unveiled smartwatches based on Android Wear. Samsung, although it used Android for its first generation Galaxy Gear, has made the switch to using its own Tizen OS for its wearable devices.

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We’ve contacted Sony to see if the company has anything more to add and will update if we find out any new information.

Update: We received a statement back from Sony regarding its future with Android Wear:

We’re excited about the potential of Android Wear to extend the mobile OS experience into wearable devices – Google is a strong partner of ours, but we have no further comment to make at this moment in time.

➤ Sony won’t use Android Wear, will stick with Smartwatch [CNET]

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