Jawbone UP3 Device Enters Fitness Race

Another fitness device arrives on the market with the announcement of Jawbone’s UP3 device, which is being touted as the world’s most advanced activity tracker.

The fitness wristband is slated to arrive later this year and joins a growing number of wearable technology aimed at the health and fitness market.

UP3 Band

According to Jawbone, UP3 comes equipped with “state-of-the-art” biometric sensors to provide a complete picture of your health. A

The sensors include a new triaxis accelerometer, sophisticated bioimpedance sensors, and skin and ambient temperature sensors. It can track your resting heart rate and also recognises and logs different types of workouts, such as running, tennis, or even zumba classes etc.

UP3 also gathers in-depth information on your sleep and what you can do to improve it. It can track your REM, Light and Deep sleep cycles.

The wristband itself was designed industrial designer, Yves Behar, and boasts a slim, low profile design that should be comfortable enough to wear 24/7. The band can also apparently that be blinged up with jewellery or watches on the wrist. It offers up to seven days of battery life, is water resistance up to 10 meters, and is constructed of a durable anodized aluminium framework.

The band couples with the UP App (Android and iOS) that offers a personalised Smart Coach, to help people track their data and offer up fitness guidance.

“Our mission was to create the world’s most powerful activity tracker in the smallest possible design, and we believe we have done that with the UP3 band,” said Travis Bogard, vice president of product management and strategy at Jawbone. “Our advanced, multi-sensor platform delivers a huge amount of new health data, backed by our smart algorithms and our highly personalized Smart Coach system. And because the technology is fully updateable, we’re able to unveil great new features and experiences in the coming months.”

Crowded Market

The company said the device will be available later this year and will retail for $179.99 (£113), at Apple stores and Best Buy in the United States. There is no word on a UK release date or price.

The arrival of the UP3 comes at an interesting period in the wearable market. Late last month for example, Microsoft finally entered the wearable market, with the Microsoft Band that combines elements of a smartwatch, with a focus on the fitness and health segment.

Many other firms including Samsung, Lenovo, Apple, and others also have their wearable tech offerings.

Analyst firm Juniper Research recently predicted that the number of smartwatches worldwide is expected to pass 100 million within the next five years. And recent research from YouGov found that the UK public is keen to embrace the smartwatch, with the penetration of wearable devices in the UK expected to more than double by September 2015.

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