Technology
29 October 2014
Last updated at 23:51 ET
Microsoft's new fitness band can last for two days on a single charge
The device can operate for two days on a single charge and has 10 sensors that can track heart rate, calories, stress and even a person's sun exposure.
It marks Microsoft's latest push into digital health after its medical record initiative HealthVault in 2007
"This is just the beginning of a multi-year vision for Microsoft in the health & fitness and wearables category," the company said in an emailed statement.
"We want to enter this space in a deliberate and measured fashion and as such are launching first in the United States."
Details about the Microsoft Band were leaked on Wednesday after companion applications for Windows, Android and Mac phones appeared on its website ahead of an official announcement.
A Microsoft Band Sync app appeared in the Mac App Store and revealed what the product looks like.
The device has a horizontal display and will be able to sync its data to Microsoft's cloud-based health service which was announced in a blog post.
Analysis: Richard Taylor, BBC North American technology correspondent
Microsoft had long been rumoured to be working on a health-centric wearable - and its timing, ahead of the busy holiday season, is no surprise either.
More than anything, Microsoft cannot be seen to be left behind, especially when other tech giants like Google and Apple are entering the burgeoning health-tech arena.
The Band will compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Smaller startups like FitBit and Jawbone initiallly kickstarted the sector, and today other consumer electronics hardware giants (notably Samsung) already have some traction and offer an array of devices.
However, Microsoft appears to be offering something a little different.
Unlike many of the more recent smartwatches which have recently come to market, the Band's dazzling array of sensors suggests a primary focus on fitness-tracking rather than attempting to be a multi-purpose smartphone accessory.
And whereas others work largely with one mobile operating system, the Band and its companion Health app are cross-platform.
Microsoft's Health cloud-based service is also a key differentiator; harnessing Redmond's strength in cloud computing, it will offer users deep insights of data gathered from other fitness devices and rival smartphones too.
Critics will say this openness was somewhat inevitable, as its own Windows Phone has negligible market share.
But it could well prove a canny move, broadening its appeal not just to consumers but also to other hardware partners, who will be able to licence Microsoft's core sensor technology to make new gadgets of their own.
by Tamara Kachelmeier and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Technology Reporters
Microsoft's new fitness band can last for two days on a single charge
Microsoft
has unveiled a wearable device that can track a user's sleep and
exercise as well as connect to a health service on smartphones.
The Microsoft Band will retail for $199 (£125) on the company's online store. The device can operate for two days on a single charge and has 10 sensors that can track heart rate, calories, stress and even a person's sun exposure.
It marks Microsoft's latest push into digital health after its medical record initiative HealthVault in 2007
"This is just the beginning of a multi-year vision for Microsoft in the health & fitness and wearables category," the company said in an emailed statement.
"We want to enter this space in a deliberate and measured fashion and as such are launching first in the United States."
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Microsoft statementThis is just the beginning of a multi-year vision for Microsoft in the health & fitness and wearables category”
Technology giants Apple, Samsung
and Google have all released health initiatives and are looking to
further develop the growing demand for wearable devices.
However, Microsoft's device is distinctive because it will be
able to work with all the major mobile ecosystems as well as connect to
social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.Details about the Microsoft Band were leaked on Wednesday after companion applications for Windows, Android and Mac phones appeared on its website ahead of an official announcement.
A Microsoft Band Sync app appeared in the Mac App Store and revealed what the product looks like.
The device has a horizontal display and will be able to sync its data to Microsoft's cloud-based health service which was announced in a blog post.
Microsoft had long been rumoured to be working on a health-centric wearable - and its timing, ahead of the busy holiday season, is no surprise either.
More than anything, Microsoft cannot be seen to be left behind, especially when other tech giants like Google and Apple are entering the burgeoning health-tech arena.
The Band will compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Smaller startups like FitBit and Jawbone initiallly kickstarted the sector, and today other consumer electronics hardware giants (notably Samsung) already have some traction and offer an array of devices.
However, Microsoft appears to be offering something a little different.
Unlike many of the more recent smartwatches which have recently come to market, the Band's dazzling array of sensors suggests a primary focus on fitness-tracking rather than attempting to be a multi-purpose smartphone accessory.
And whereas others work largely with one mobile operating system, the Band and its companion Health app are cross-platform.
Microsoft's Health cloud-based service is also a key differentiator; harnessing Redmond's strength in cloud computing, it will offer users deep insights of data gathered from other fitness devices and rival smartphones too.
Critics will say this openness was somewhat inevitable, as its own Windows Phone has negligible market share.
But it could well prove a canny move, broadening its appeal not just to consumers but also to other hardware partners, who will be able to licence Microsoft's core sensor technology to make new gadgets of their own.
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