Microsoft’s first wearable device dubbed ‘Microsoft Band’ is now available for sale in the UK for £169.99.
“We’re excited to announce that Microsoft Band has officially launched in the UK!” said Microsoft.
Powered by Microsoft’s new Health platform, the Bluetooth fitness band allows users to track their daily physical activity and review stats with just a glance at their wrist. The band offers 24-hour heart rate tracking, calorie tracking, sleep tracking and GPS tracking to help users keep a tab on their fitness goals.
Microsoft Band features an adjustable rubber strap and a 1.4-inch, 320 x 106 pixels color touch screen with a customizable background. The dust and splash resistant band promises to offer two days of battery life and takes just 1.5 hours for a full charge.
The device has been equipped with 10 built-in sensors including the optical heart rate sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer / gyro to track movement, a gyrometer, GPS, an ambient light sensor, a skin temperature sensor, a UV sensor, a capacitive sensor and a galvanic skin response sensor.
The Microsoft Band provides users with call, email, text, weather, finance and social update notifications from Facebook and Twitter and an access to Window’s personal digital assistant Cortana. The Band can be used with Android, iOS, or Windows Phone devices. The device is compatible with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 devices with Bluetooth 4.0, Android 4.3/4.4 devices with Bluetooth 4.0 and iOS 7.1 and 8.x.
Microsoft has also partnered with fitness and wellbeing leaders Nuffield Health to create goal-based guided workouts, which will soon be available on the Microsoft Band.
Jay Brewer, Head of Clinical Wellbeing at Nuffield Health said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Microsoft for the UK launch of the Microsoft Band. Our partnership enables us to combine health expertise and technology in a new and innovative way that can really help people improve their health and wellbeing.”
The Microsoft Band is available via Amazon, Currys PC World, Dixons Travel, Harrods, O2, and the official Microsoft UK Store.
