More third-party developers are being roped in by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in its bid to develop next-generation apps for its fitness-monitoring wristband, comprising Microsoft Health Cloud APIs and Microsoft Band Web Tiles.
Started off in last October, the Microsoft Band is a health-centric device that monitors a number of metrics – heart rate, calorie burn, stress, and sleep quality. Besides, it lets people being more productive through email previews and calendar alerts – right on their wrist. The cloud-based Microsoft Health service facilitates integration of data from the Band and the Heath app with data from other services, namely MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper.
Amid a strong completion from big fitness players – Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit, and Garmin- Microsoft worked to enhance the appeal of band by combining with other services, including its own.
Microsoft has been working for some time to spread the Band to other services as well. In April this year, it revealed its plans to build integration into two apps that are trendy with cyclists – Strava and MapMyRide. Thereafter, Microsoft brought out a comprehensive software development kit (SDK) for the Microsoft Health app, enabling developers frame apps exclusively for the band.
The new Microsoft Health Cloud lets developers source fitness data from Microsoft’s cloud service to increase their apps despite the fact that the extent of utility will rely, no doubt, on how much data a user preserves in his cloud-based account.
Yet to be functional fully, the first set of Microsoft Health will be read-only, covering Summaries and Activities. Since it is in read-only option, developers won’t be able to prepare data to a user’s cloud-specific profile.
Developers will have the capability to create quick glance information on the Microsoft Band from other data source that is available on the web. The Web Authoring tool enables developers author a small tile to support iOS, Windows Phone, and Android.
Under the dynamic leadership of Nadella, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has witnessed a sea of revolution and has altered the way we monitor our lives. First it began with cloud, then it’s mobile and now it’s productivity.
