Free fitness application and wearable device Fitbit has been launched in South Africa by the iStore, helping users monitor their sleep patterns, weight, step count and calories burned.
According to a report by News24, the data collected by Fitbit can be automatically synced to smartphones wirelessly.
Eric Friedman, co-founder and technology officer, and James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit, created the wearable product when they realised the advantages presented by sensors and wireless technology.
Fitbit was reportedly equipped with a number of various trackers in order to provide users with the option of choosing the tracker best suited to their needs.
In terms of the application and wearable device’s functionality, users must enter data throughout the day, which includes meals, workouts and water consumption.
The tracker will then record the user’s progress, helping the users to ensure they reach their goals.
Furthermore, users can challenge friends and family by connecting them with the application and comparing stats and the progress made. The application also awards users with badges for their achievements based on a daily, weekly and lifetime basis.
The application is already available in South Africa and the Fitbit Zip wireless activity tracker is available for ZAR899 (US$90.68) and the FitBit One and FitBit flex (also wireless activity trackers) are both available at ZAR1,299 (US$131).
To further encourage users to exercise more, those using the application and devices that use Discovery medical aid earn Vitality points if they are able to achieve 10,000 steps per day.
