Apple spent 3 years developing Apple Watch for Android users, stopped because of “technical limitations”

Apple is facing a significant antitrust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, accusing the tech giant of monopolizing the smartphone market with its iPhone and other devices, including the Apple Watch.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted challenges in using the Apple Watch with non-iPhone devices, although reports suggest that Apple attempted to add Android support to the watch over a three-year period, citing technical constraints.

According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple spent three years exploring the possibility of incorporating Android support into the Apple Watch but ultimately cited "technical limitations" as the reason for its failure to materialize.

The lawsuit, filed in conjunction with 17 state and district attorneys general, alleges that Apple's business practices violate antitrust laws. Examples cited in the lawsuit include the imposition of a 30 per cent fee on transactions made through the App Store, the differentiation of iMessage text bubbles for Android users, and the sharing of personal information when using Apple Wallet.

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In response to the lawsuit, Apple has refuted the allegations, asserting that the lawsuit misrepresents both the facts and the law.

While the antitrust lawsuit against Apple represents a significant legal challenge in the United States, the tech giant has also faced stringent regulations in the European Union.

These regulations include mandates for Apple to adopt USB-C instead of Lightning cables and to enable support for third-party app stores on its devices. However, it's unlikely that any substantial changes will occur swiftly as the lawsuit unfolds in the courts.

Despite the absence of Android support for the Apple Watch, Google has capitalized on the wearable tech market with its own lineup of devices. Notably, the Pixel Watch, particularly with the recent release of the Pixel Watch 2, has garnered attention.

Additionally, Google's acquisition of Fitbit has bolstered its presence in the wearable device market. Fitbit is poised to integrate artificial intelligence into its devices to provide users with personalized health and fitness insights.