Apple is entering the mHealth market with the HealthKit platform and its own Health app.
HealthKit enables health and fitness apps to share data, with the likes of Nike, Fitbit, Jawbone, RunKeeper and MapMyFitness all agreeing to join the scheme.The platform “part” wants to be a central place where you’ll store all health information which can then be pulled by approved third parties. In addition, HealthKit also enables health and fitness apps to share data, with the likes of Nike, Fitbit, Jawbone, RunKeeper and MapMyFitness all agreeing to join the scheme. That’s the consumer side of things; on the other side, Apple is also pursuing partnership with health institutions such as Mayo Clinic, with the idea to allow health care providers to easily get to your vital data when needed. Naturally, the security of this information is a major concern and Apple will make sure these records are properly secured.
As for the Health app, it has all the functions previously leaked in what we thought will be known as the Healthbook app. It will collect any number of body metrics such as blood pressure, heart rate, and stats on diet and exercise, and present this information in an easy-to-grasp manner. Additional features will allow users to see how they fare over time and get some advice how they can improve their well-being.
Apple’s Health app will collect any number of body metrics such as blood pressure, heart rate, and stats on diet and exercise, and present this information in an easy-to-grasp manner.The health and fitness apps category has been growing like crazy in recent years and Apple would be foolish to ignore this trend. By bundling the service with its mobile platform — and relying on its fateful user base — the iPhone maker could quickly become a force worth reckoning with in the healthcare industry.
Meanwhile, Samsung is already doing something similar with its S Health app and we’re sure other major handset makers, as well as Google and Microsoft, are looking to expand their offerings to the mHealth market, as well.