Apple has acknowledged spending several years attempting to extend support for its Apple Watch to Android smartphones, in its response to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit filed on Wednesday, the media has reported. Earlier reports had hinted at the company's attempts to enable compatibility of its smartwatches with devices running Google's smartphone operating system (OS). Importantly, this marks the first official confirmation from Apple regarding its previous intention to introduce an Apple Watch that would function with Android phones.
Apple responded by acknowledging that they did explore the possibility of making the Apple Watch compatible with Android devices at one stage. However, upon investigation, they encountered technical hurdles that rendered the idea unfeasible, leading them to abandon it. This aligns with previous reports by journalist Mark Gurman, who had discussed Apple's intentions to enable the Apple Watch to function with Android smartphones.
In its response to the lawsuit filed by the United States DOJ, Apple admitted to contemplating the development of an Apple Watch for Android. Notably, in the lawsuit, the Department of Justice utilises the Apple Watch as evidence to support its assertion that Apple holds a monopoly.
"Apple’s smartwatch—Apple Watch—is only compatible with the iPhone. So, if Apple can steer a user towards buying an Apple Watch, it becomes more costly for that user to purchase a different kind of smartphone because doing so requires the user to abandon their costly Apple Watch and purchase a new, Android-compatible smartwatch," says a report by 9to5Mac.
The US DOJ on Thursday, along with 16 state attorneys general, lodged an antitrust lawsuit against tech giant Apple. This action marks the federal government's biggest effort to confront the company's widespread influence, given its role in providing iPhones to over a billion individuals.
According to the government's argument, Apple has breached antitrust regulations by prohibiting other companies from providing applications that directly compete with Apple products, such as its digital wallets, says a report by New York Times (NYT). This restriction could potentially reduce the iPhone's value. The government further alleged that Apple's policies adversely affect both consumers and smaller companies that offer competing services. These claims are outlined in excerpts from the lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Allegations are there that the iPhone maker may grant preferential treatment to its own products, providing them with better access and features compared to competitors. However, Apple has vehemently denied these allegations and has stated its intention to contest them in court.