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Rumor: Microsoft weeks away from launching fitness bands with multi-platform support

By Marcus Wong - on 20 Oct 2014, 4:38pm

Rumor: Microsoft weeks away from launching fitness bands with multi-platform support

According to Forbes, Microsoft is set to launch a wearable device within the next few weeks that is likely to be a fitness band with watch functions that tracks the wearer’s heart rate and works across different mobile platforms – iOS, Windows Phone and Android.

If true, this would mark Microsoft’s first entry into a new device category under CEO Satya Nadella, and going cross platform would be consistent with his desire to make Microsoft’s product offerings available across all devices. Microsoft may be counting on its expertise in software to allow it to create sensor integrations that boast the efficiency of the device’s power train.

According to The Verge, the fitness band will have some smartwatch features , but will focus mainly on fitness activities, tracking steps, heart rate, calories burned and other key health readings via a multitude of sensors on the device. Microsoft has apparently been testing the ability to monitor heart rate throughout the day and night, and the final device is expected to ship with around two days of battery life.

Patents have been filed by Microsoft for a “wearable personal information system” that includes hardware that resembles a fitness band with icons for running and heart rate, while it is believed that the device will also display smartphone notifications on a 1.5 inch display with removable wrist bands.

This wouldn’t be Microsoft’s first foray into smart watches though, as they have previously partnered with Fossil, Suunto and Tissot to offer smart watches running Microsoft’s SPOT (Smart Personal Object Technology) system, which provided information to devices over FM waves (ie radio technology). Yearly subscriptions ran from US$39 to US$59 a year depending on the options picked, and the watch recharged its battery using inductive charging built into a stand– no wires required.

Sources: Forbes, The Verge

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