The Telegram instant messaging (IM) app is now available on Android Wear 2.0, its developers announced on Thursday. The announcement came shortly after Google announced the launch of Android Wear 2.0 which supports standalone apps. As it turns out, the developers behind Telegram already made one such app which is now available for download from the Google Play Store free of charge. As expected, the Android Wear version of Telegram allows users to browse their chat history and quickly reply to messages with either voice or text. The app supports both emojis and stickers and allows people to create new chat groups directly from their watch. The new version of Telegram started rolling out yesterday and should already be available to all users who own a device running Android Wear 2.0.
Furthermore, the new version of Telegram also supports themes which currently seem really basic but might evolve into something more in the future. On a related note, the company announced that themes will also find their way to the Telegram Android app shortly, but didn’t provide a specific timeline for the inclusion of that feature. The gallery below shows some screenshots of Telegram for Android Wear 2.0. Generally speaking, the app seems to feature a clean, intuitive user interface that’s in line with Google’s Material Design guidelines. While some users may not find the idea of using an IM app on their smartwatch too appealing, the fact that Telegram supports voice replies and handwriting recognition should still ensure that the Android Wear version of the app is as intuitive as possible. Not surprisingly, the app also supports third-party keyboards and allows you to draw emojis on your watch.
Overall, most Telegram users will likely find the new version of the app useful, though it’s availability is still limited seeing how Android Wear 2.0 is currently only available on the LG Watch Sport and the LG Watch Style. Nevertheless, more Android Wear devices are scheduled to be updated to Android Wear 2.0 in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can always use the mobile version of the app that is still receiving updates on a regular basis.
