A discovery in the latest Google Messages beta shows the company could bring full RCS support to Wear OS devices. Such support would let LTE and Wi-Fi smartwatches send RCS texts without relying on the connection between it and your phone.

Google is working on enabling standalone RCS functionality for Wear OS smartwatches, letting it work independent from your phone. Read on!

RCS (Rich Communication Service) has been a buzzword recently, thanks to the rollout of iOS 18. To catch you up, Apple included RCS messaging support on iOS 18, long after Googles

Last week, medical device maker Masimo announced new deals with Google and Qualcomm to bring its biosensing tech to Wear OS smartwatches. That’s pretty inside baseball for the wearable industry, but it takes an interesting turn when you realize Masimo is also the reason why the new Apple Watch Series 10 doesn’t have blood oxygen features in the US.

Google looks to have halted the rollout of the Wear OS 5 update for the first-gen Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2

Following reports of the Pixel Watch Wear OS 5 update locking up wearables, Google has taken steps to stop distribution.

If you have an original Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2, good news: Wear OS 5 will begin rolling out today and, with it, a handful of new features.

According to the strings in Google Messages' latest Beta, Wear OS smartwatches may soon get support for RCS messaging.

Wear OS currently needs phone connectivity for RCS support, hindering functionality. Google's addition of standalone RCS may enhance emergency communication on smartwatches. Having a watch with cellular connectivity on your wrist can be a reassurance in sticky situations when your phone runs out of charge.