Android Wear devices now work with iPhones

The hour has come - Android Wear now works with iPhones.

That's a pretty big deal, seeing the Google created wearable operating system being opened up to include users who have an iPhone. It should help with sell-through of Android Wear devices, given the proliferation of iPhones out there in the world and might help drag back some market share from those massively successful Apple Watches.

It's not quite that simple though, with one major issue - it only works with a single wearable right now, the LG Watch Urbane.

The wearable was released in May 2015 and as the newest Android Wear device is the only one with the hardware and software combination available to work with the new system. That means every future Android Wear device should be compatible. Take note, you'll need an iPhone newer than the iPhone 5 as well.

Bringing key features like these to future platforms makes a lot more sense, it's less messy than trying to work on backwards compatibility but it does mean that few users will be able to take advantage of the new relationship - unless they happen to have a specific wearable and a handset which previously was unable to communicate with it.

Hopefully a few new compatible wearables debut at IFA and iOS will finally be able to talk politely with Android Wear.