[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics has reportedly launched a beta test to enable its smartwatches and fitness bands to be paired with California-based Apple’s devices running on the iOS operating system.

The beta test to link the Gear S2 and Gear Fit 2 with iOS were to be run from Aug. 24 to Sept. 19, according to news reports. 

It has long been anticipated that Samsung would eventually team up with its archrival Apple to galvanize the still-fledgling global wearables market.

Samsung’s Vice President Alanna Cotton said at the CES electronics trade show in Las Vegas in January that the Gear S2 would be compatible with Apple’s iOS operating system for mobile devices.

The Korean tech firm’s wearable gadgets are running on the Tizen operating system, developed by an alliance of global tech firms including Samsung, Intel and Huawei.

Apple devices fitted with iOS 8.4 or higher, including the iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S Plus, will be put to the compatibility test.

Market research firm Strategic Analytics expect the global wearables market will grow to a $45 billion by 2020.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com">wone0102@heraldcorp.com)