good news for all andriod users

Hey, Samsung, open your Gear watches to all Android users                                           

Samsung wearables, such as the Gear Fit, only work with Samsung phones and tablets. Sarah Tew/CNET

Samsung needs to let its Gear family of smartwatches off its tight Galaxy leash.
The Gear Fit, Gear 2, and Gear 2 Neo, which will hit the market Friday and range from $199 to $299, are the latest attempts by Samsung to breach the burgeoning smartwatch market. The $199 Gear Fit, in particular, is seen by the company as its best shot at the mainstream market. But to the Korean electronics conglomerate, mainstream is apparently limited to someone using a Galaxy phone or tablet.
That's because Samsung has chosen to tie its Gear line exclusively to its own mobile products. Given that nearly one in three smartphones and one in five tablets sold is made by Samsung, it's not an entirely bad bet to make. But the strategy also means it's leaving a lot of potential consumers -- many who would like a smart fitness tracker -- out of luck.

See also

• CNET's take on the Gear Fit                   
• Behind Samsung's push to rule the world
• Google Wearables 2.0: How Android Wear breaks from Glass                   

If Samsung aspires to achieve true mass-market appeal, it needs to unshackle its Gear family from its Galaxy phones, allowing it to work with other popular devices like the HTC One M8 or the Nexus 5. Otherwise, it might find itself playing catch-up to a host of Android Wear-powered smartwatches on their way -- many of which promise full Android compatibility.
The wearables business isn't just a hobby for Samsung. It's a vital new market that the Korean company is counting on to help attract new customers and offset slowing growth in the smartphone sector. It's also Samsung's way to establish itself as a leader and innovator early, rather than its usual reputation as a "fast follower."
Samsung, for its part, says making its smartwatches sync with only its devices ensures the best experience possible. For example, the company had to modify the Bluetooth path so the Gear Fit can be connected to a phone at the same time the phone is connected to a car. It also tailored the software to work specifically with its devices and built the wearable to work with certain processing specifications.