Apple removes Walkie-Talkie from watchOS 27 beta

Apple has removed the Walkie-Talkie app from the first developer beta of its upcoming watchOS 27 software, signaling a likely end for the feature that debuted in 2018. The app, which allowed users to send instant voice messages to other Apple Watch owners over Wi-Fi or cellular, is absent from the app list and Control Center in the beta released after Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. The company has not officially commented on the change.

The removal appears deliberate, given the feature's history. Walkie-Talkie was introduced with watchOS 5, offering a push-to-talk communication tool that used FaceTime's infrastructure for long-distance connections. While it presented a novel, hands-free way to communicate, particularly for families or close contacts, Apple provided few updates or improvements over the subsequent eight major software releases. Its prominence diminished as newer health, fitness, and communication tools took center stage on the wearable.

A significant security flaw also impacted the feature's trajectory. Less than a year after launch, Apple temporarily disabled Walkie-Talkie after discovering a vulnerability that could allow unauthorized...