Dec 07, 2012– Trondheim, Norway (Techreleased) – Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA today announces that the world’s most prolific Bluetooth low energy health and fitness product developer – Wahoo Fitness – has launched a Bluetooth low energy / Bluetooth Smart weight scale, the $99 Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scale, which employs a Nordic µBlue™ nRF8001 Connectivity chip to wirelessly connect to any Bluetooth v4.0 enabled smartphone or device.
This includes Bluetooth v4.0 enabled iOS devices such as the iPhone® 4S/5, 3rd/4th generation iPad®, iPad mini, and 5th generation iPod® touch running either the free Wahoo Fitness app or any one of what will be a continually growing list of compatible leading weight tracking apps. At launch supported apps will include TargetWeight for Adults, Target Weight Pro, TactioHealth, iBody, Wahoo Fitness Scale App (free), and Monitor Your Weight (including the HD variant for iPad). Other apps that will be supported in the near future include Lose It!, and Calorie Counter by MyNetDiary. Wahoo also plans to roll out an Android app for Bluetooth v4.0 enabled Android smartphones and devices in the near future.
In operation, the Wahoo Balance functions like a regular weight and BMI scale and supports up to 16 individual user profiles. Weight and BMI data measured by the scale is stored in memory (for up to three months) until each user activates their favorite weight app on their smartphone. If the device is within range (indicated by a light on the scale’s LCD display to let the user know it is successfully connected to the app) all their recorded weight data is then imported automatically via Bluetooth low energy wireless technology.
The use of an ultra-low power Nordic µBlue™ nRF8001 chip also enables the Wahoo Balance to operate for up to 12 months from a pair of regular AAA batteries under typical (daily) usage conditions.The Wahoo Balance Smartphone Scale is available direct from Wahoo or via major resellers such as Amazon and Best Buy.
“Weight tracking apps are extremely popular,” comments Molly Andruszkiewicz, Director of Marketing at Wahoo Fitness, “but until now they’ve relied on the end user to manually measure their weight [and BMI] and input that data into them, which is inconvenient and prone to inconsistencies. This weight scale changes all this by completely automating the weight measurement logging process in a way that could not be more reliable, easy, and effortless for the end user.” “Weight scales could be a game-changer for the entire Bluetooth low energy product market,” continues Mike Stashak, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Wahoo Fitness. “Until now Bluetooth low energy products – although welcomed with enormous enthusiasm – have targeted fairly niche applications. The Wahoo Balance is a Bluetooth low energy product that is relevant to everyone.”
“Weight is a major wellness concern for many people,” comments Geir Langeland, Nordic Semiconductor’s Director of Sales & Marketing. “And so I can only commend Wahoo Fitness for developing a Bluetooth low energy weight scale that makes it even easier for people to measure and track their weight.”
