Following a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice accusing Apple of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the smartphone market and related services, Apple disclosed an unexpected development.
Apple has long been criticized for its closed ecosystem approach, which restricts interoperability with non-Apple products. Surprisingly, the tech giant made efforts to enable the Apple Watch to function with Android phones despite this practice.
According to reports, Apple explored this concept over a three-year period, a revelation made in response to the DOJ’s accusations of Apple’s ecosystem control.
Apple’s Apple Watch is exclusively designed for use with iPhones. By promoting the purchase of an Apple Watch, Apple indirectly raises the cost for users to switch to a different smartphone, as they would need to forsake their expensive Apple Watch for a new, Android-compatible smartwatch.
Apple claims that technological constraints prevent the Apple Watch from being compatible with Android devices. This assertion is noteworthy considering previous reports suggesting the same limitation, which Apple has only recently confirmed.
