Microsoft launches a $199 tracker to monitor health, fitness and sleep data

Soon after the launch of the much-talked about Apple watch, Microsoft Corp also jumped into the crowded wearable-gadgets market with its new wristband, an activity-tracking device to track and analyse health, fitness and sleep data.

The Microsoft Band is on sales in the US for $199 (Rs 12,220.59), works with the company’s free Health app, which uses machine learning to interpret data and can run on its Windows system, Apple Inc.’s iOS mobile software and Google Inc.’s Android.

According to the report of the leading source of global business and financial information, Bloomberg, Yusuf Mehdi, Vice President of Devices and Studios, Microsoft Corp., “All these devices are great in their own right, but they are all their own individual islands. We think there is another chapter where you as an individual can have access to all the data you get from whatever set of devices you use.”

Starting in January, the app will work with other devices, including Apple and Android phones.

To complement the device, Microsoft has also unveiled a cloud-based health service known as the Microsoft Health. It’s a hub that collects data from the Microsoft band and other third-party devices and apps, with the aim to provide personal insights so one can reach his fitness goals.

Microsoft is hoping to fascinate the users of other rival devices and smartphones with its cloud-based Microsoft Health software that works on iOS, Android and Windows Phone.