Next-Gen Fitness Gadgets Will Sync to Bluetooth-Enabled Devices

The next generation of sports and fitness gadgets and apps will be able to sync with a wider variety of devices -- from smartphones, tablets, laptops and even TVs -- anything that's Bluetooth enabled. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), that manages the Bluetooth technology, has set standards for the next generation of fitness gadgets. Since manufactures will now use standards-based protocols for their products, rather than develop proprietary solutions and forge partnerships, fitness gadget makers can create products that are more likely to sync with the Bluetooth-enabled gadgets in your home.

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Up until now, products such as Nike+ iPod only connected to select Apple devices, but with these new standards fitness gadgets will become much more device agnostic.

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Now, companies can quickly implement the latest tools for measuring speed and cadence for running and cycling activities to their fitness gadget using Bluetooth.

'The Running S&C and Cycling S&C profiles unlock these sensors, allowing companies to build products that can connect with the tens of millions of Bluetooth Smart Ready devices already in the market, and the hundreds of millions on the way in the coming quarters,' said Suke Jawanda, chief marketing officer, Bluetooth SIG.

In the SIG press release, ABI Research, Inc. forecasts shipments of Bluetooth enabled sports and fitness devices will grow ten-fold from 2011 to 2016, totaling 278 million and representing more than 60% of the total available market.

Do you own a fitness gadget or app? Would it be better if it was Bluetooth enabled? Tell us in the comments.

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, diego_cervo

[Via: Engadget]

This story originally published on Mashable here.



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