Apple and Google are the fiercest of competitors, but they both recognize and respect each other's presence enough to extend compatibility between their respective iOS and Android platforms. Android Wear, the wearable version of the search giant's software, has remained exclusive to those running Android smartphones so far, but with the company's big I/O dev conference taking place later on today, things could be about to change.

It was more than two months ago that the idea of Android Wear seeing iPhone compatibility was first brought to our attention. Developer MohammedAG found some code within the Android Wear software that appeared to confirm Google was working to take its smartwatch software to the Apple platform, as can be seen in this tweet:

#AndroidWear 4.4W (didn't check 5.0) contains iOS related code(!), class name AncsHandler. I guess that confirms they're working on it.

— MohammadAG (@MohammadAG) March 18, 2015

At this stage, it seems fairly unlikely that Apple will reciprocate by taking Apple Watch to Android, but if Google can get this rumored expansion right, Android Wear could mount a serious challenge to the Cupertino wearable. In its first week of pre-orders, Apple Watch is estimated to have been snapped up more times than the total shipment of Android Wear devices throughout the whole of last year, but if iPhone users at least have the chance to go with Android Wear, they may be cajoled by a hardware selection that is both broad and varied.

Then again, an Apple Watch built to work with the Apple iPhone is unlikely to be bettered by whatever Google can come up with. Apple prides its reputation on creating products that interact seamlessly with one another, and since Android Wear is still a way off being as fluid as the likes of KitKat or Lollipop, it's probably going to take a lot for Google to convince iPhone owners that Android Wear is a viable option over Apple Watch.

Today's I/O developers conference is sure to go down a storm. Google is expected to unveil its brand new Android M software as well as a new Nexus smartphone at the gathering, along with a number of other rumored updates and arrivals. Whether Android Wear will also be spreading its wings and supporting iOS, we'll have to wait and see, but whatever may be, we will have the details covered right here.

In the meantime, we would love to hear your take on this matter. Would you like to see Android Wear on iOS--do you believe it would be beneficial for Google to do so? Or should Apple Watch and Android Wear devices instead stick with their respective platforms?

Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think!