Back in September, LG announced a new variant of its Watch Urbane line that featured an LTE radio for connecting to cellular networks. As you are probably imagining, the point of having LTE in a watch is to let you leave your phone at home and still be able to keep full connectivity. We can debate for days over whether or not the world needs this kind of connectivity in a wrist watch, but that’s not what this post is about. You see, LG went ahead and announced an LTE-ready watch without Google having yet announced support for such a feature for its wearable platform, Android Wear. Last night, they did just that as the watch begins to make its way to retailers.
Through the Android Official Blog, Google has now officially given support to Android Wear and the Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE.
With cellular support on Android Wear, you can stay connected without a phone or WiFi connection present, use your favorite apps, send text messages, and make/take phone calls.
The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE is the first Android Wear device to utilize this new feature, but there will undoubtedly be more before long. This new Android Wear device is coming to AT&T and Verizon this month.
Now this I might make buy a smartwatch now. At least when they officially announce it.
I’m much more interested in NFC payments… Not another data plan to pay for.
I just like the idea of being at the beach or pool/waterpark and not having to have my phone on me the whole time in case I get an emergency call or something. Issue is Pebble is the only smartwatch that is waterproof that I trust and I doubt that will get LTE anytime soon. Could you image the bezel on that thing?
Meanwhile the update to my android wear app broke my moto 360 and I keep getting ” Unfortunately, Google play services has stopped”. 1st world problems are strong in my home today.
So even thought no one has been talking about it, there absolutely MUST be a speaker on the new generation LTE watches so that you can actually carry on a phone conversation WITHOUT having your phone with you. This is one of the few exclusive characteristics of the Samsung Gear watches that I like. The fact that I can answer a call with my Android Wear watch always seems kind of stupid to me, since I STILL have to pull the damn phone out from under my suit jacket AND coat in order to HEAR the person on the line!
Whoever the person was that insisted that all Android Wear watches just have microphones with no speakers was an IDIOT!!! I think that ALL smartwatches should have both mics and speakers so that users can at least have a choice to talk on their watches or just use their actual phones (especially as much as they cost these days). At this point thought, being that it’s so late in the game I don’t think I’ll be buying another damn smartwatch just to be able to use it like I should have been able to right from the start. I currently still own the Samsung Gear 1 and Gear 2 as well as the LG G-Watch R, and at $300+ for each, “F#ck buying another one now just to have LTE, when I feel the other watches could have been better made!!!!!!!”
A lot of people carry bluetooth ear buds with them, many of which have an embedded mic! The ability to take only your watch and ear buds to the gym/on a run/watersports/etc and still have access to music, calls, and texts, would still be a REALLY big thing for a lot of people. Just my two cents
“MUST” is a pretty strong word. Honestly, I hope they don’t put speakers on watches (at least not ones that can be heard more than a few feet away. I already find it really annoying to hear someone’s conversation they are having in some public place. It’s even more annoying to hear both sides of the conversation because it’s on a speakerphone. On a smartwatch, no. Get a set of BT ear buds..
I love the idea of it, but I refuse to pay monthly fees just to have it connected.
I think it’s only like $5 a month for a connected smart watch on Verizon. may be better to get in early before Apple Watch 2 LTE bumps that rate up
I’ll just use my phone, thanks Google. I have gen 1 Moto 360, and it’s great for getting my phone notifications at a glance, but I don’t need it for anything more than that. I won’t be buying another smart watch, I don’t think.
I had the 1st gen and upgraded to the second after being on the fence about it because it seemed like it wasn’t enough reason to upgrade. But to my surprise I love the second gen. It looks better, is easier to swap watch bands (I have many of them) and the battery life is much better. So much so that I can have the screen always on with ambient mode all day every day and still have plenty of battery at the end of the day. It is so nice not having a blank black screen on my wrist 90% of the day till I want to activate it.
My problem is, which could be because it’s gen 1, it doesn’t seem to work the way it should. Many times I find myself speaking a command when my watch is in my pocket and it cannot connect to Google, when I know I have service because the notification just popped up. The battery life is definitely horrendous, but I will say I do enjoy the look of the 2nd gen. I just don’t know if the need is there anymore.
Now how much will At&t and Verizon charge for this?
hmm
Still waiting on that NFC…
They don’t have nfc? I would never buy a smart watch, but that seems like it would be the one feature that is a must.
Unfortunately, the only watch that has NFC at the moment (correct me if I’m wrong) is the Apple Watch. Using NFC on my Watch to pay for things is really nice, and I wish that more manufacturers would add it in.
gear s2 has nfc as well, just waiting on the update for it to be activated.
Thanks for the correction! 😀
Sony Smart Watch 3 has NFC too, waiting for activation as well.
Gotcha, thanks for catching that 😀 I wasn’t 100% sure which other watches have NFC. In the back of my mind, I thought maybe the Gear S2 had it but wasn’t sure
This. Taking my phone out of my pocket doesn’t save me any more time or hassle than taking my wallet out. I want Android Pay on my damn watch. And possibly tasker.
Pretty much what’s holding me back from considering buying one…
My guess is the trouble in securing it. They locked down Android Pay to require you to authenticate before using it, but there is no lockscreen on your watch. You’d need to be within range of your phone to use it, but still it definitely has potential for problems
I’ve had about 5 Android / Tizen watches and the Apple Watch and have come to the conclusion that mobile payments with a watch is one of the most convenient features of the smart watches. Now if my car key fob and driver’s licence can be used from my phone or watch, I would save several hours a year not having to search for them all.