Polar and Nike announce WearLink+ heart rate monitor for Nike+
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 8th 2010 2:04AM
posted June 8th 2010 2:04AM
POLAR AND NIKE INTRODUCE HEART RATE TRAINING TO MILLIONS OF NIKE+ RUNNERS
Beaverton, Ore. (June 7, 2010) – Nike, Inc (NYSE:NKE) and Polar, the market leader and pioneer in heart rate training technology, have introduced the Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+. This new product works with the Nike+ SportBand and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, enabling users to run and train with heart rate monitoring for the first time.
This exciting new piece of equipment is worn comfortably round the chest and transmits the user's heart rate wirelessly to their Nike+ iPod Sport Kit or Sportband. It will improve the training experience of Nike+ users helping them to understand how hard they are working in any given run. Users can see their beats per minute while they run with their Nike+ SportBand, or hear spoken feedback of their BPM during their Nike+ iPod workout. And after training, heart rate data can be transferred to the nikeplus.com web service. Users can track how long they ran in their target heart rate zone and see their heart rate progress over time.
The new Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, is also compatible with most Polar training computers (all those using 5 kHz transmission technology). This allows use of both the Nike+ system and a Polar training computer at the same time. The Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, is also compatible with the fifth generation iPod nano and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.
The soft textile chest strap seamlessly adapts to the user's body shape, bringing full freedom of movement to the training session. The comfortable textile strap is also machine-washable and with its hook mechanism, the transmitter is just as quick to put on as it is to take off. A user replaceable battery also increases the ease-of-use.
In addition, the Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, works with Polar-compatible fitness equipment, including models from all major fitness equipment manufacturers. This enables users wearing the WearLink+ transmitter to see their heart rate on the compatible fitness club equipment as well. The coded transmission ensures that Nike+ devices and Polar training computers pick up the right heart rate signal and not someone else's.
"We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Nike", says Marco Suvilaakso, Group Product Director at Polar. "Polar and Nike are both market leading global sports brands. Nike users around the globe can now benefit for the first time from pioneering Polar heart rate monitoring technology. The new WearLink®+ transmitter Nike+ will make accurate heart rate training available to millions of Nike+ users. It will add a new dimension to their training enabling them to train at the right intensity to achieve their goals. We anticipate this will be a very popular product."
"We are excited to introduce Polar heart rate technology into the Nike+ system so millions of enthusiastic users can take their training and performance to the next level," said Jeff Padovan, president of Polar USA. "Being able to partner with industry leaders like Nike and Apple who share our passion for sports and technology allows us to deliver what the consumer has asked for by providing the best each company has to offer all in one product."
The Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, will be available from June 2010 in the United States, followed by Canada and major EU countries from the beginning of July. On sale through authorized Polar retailers, Nike-owned retail stores and through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), the Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, is sold as a Polar accessory set with a user manual. Compatible Polar training computers can be purchased separately.
Notes to Editors
Recommended retail price: $69.95
Compatible Polar training computers:
All Polar training computers utilizing 5 kHz transmission technology, including Polar FT80, FT60, FT40, FT7, FT4, FT2, FT1, RS400, RS300X, RS100, CS400, CS300, CS200 and CS100. Please check the up-to-date list of compatible training computers from the Polar web site.Water resistance of Polar products is tested according to International IEC 60529 IPx7 (1m, 30min, 20°C).Not suitable for bathing or swimming. Protected against wash splashes and raindrops. Do not wash with a pressure washer.Not suitable for swimming. Protected against wash splashes, sweat, raindrops etc. Do not wash with a pressure washer.Suitable for bathing and swimming.Suitable for swimming and snorkeling (without air tanks).
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
About Polar
Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977. Polar now operates internationally in more than 80 countries. Polar heart rate and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body from valuable training guidance and feedback, to enabling individuals to improve their fitness level and sports performance. Polar technology is key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the world. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polarusa.com.
About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.
Beaverton, Ore. (June 7, 2010) – Nike, Inc (NYSE:NKE) and Polar, the market leader and pioneer in heart rate training technology, have introduced the Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+. This new product works with the Nike+ SportBand and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, enabling users to run and train with heart rate monitoring for the first time.
This exciting new piece of equipment is worn comfortably round the chest and transmits the user's heart rate wirelessly to their Nike+ iPod Sport Kit or Sportband. It will improve the training experience of Nike+ users helping them to understand how hard they are working in any given run. Users can see their beats per minute while they run with their Nike+ SportBand, or hear spoken feedback of their BPM during their Nike+ iPod workout. And after training, heart rate data can be transferred to the nikeplus.com web service. Users can track how long they ran in their target heart rate zone and see their heart rate progress over time.
The new Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, is also compatible with most Polar training computers (all those using 5 kHz transmission technology). This allows use of both the Nike+ system and a Polar training computer at the same time. The Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, is also compatible with the fifth generation iPod nano and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.
The soft textile chest strap seamlessly adapts to the user's body shape, bringing full freedom of movement to the training session. The comfortable textile strap is also machine-washable and with its hook mechanism, the transmitter is just as quick to put on as it is to take off. A user replaceable battery also increases the ease-of-use.
In addition, the Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, works with Polar-compatible fitness equipment, including models from all major fitness equipment manufacturers. This enables users wearing the WearLink+ transmitter to see their heart rate on the compatible fitness club equipment as well. The coded transmission ensures that Nike+ devices and Polar training computers pick up the right heart rate signal and not someone else's.
"We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Nike", says Marco Suvilaakso, Group Product Director at Polar. "Polar and Nike are both market leading global sports brands. Nike users around the globe can now benefit for the first time from pioneering Polar heart rate monitoring technology. The new WearLink®+ transmitter Nike+ will make accurate heart rate training available to millions of Nike+ users. It will add a new dimension to their training enabling them to train at the right intensity to achieve their goals. We anticipate this will be a very popular product."
"We are excited to introduce Polar heart rate technology into the Nike+ system so millions of enthusiastic users can take their training and performance to the next level," said Jeff Padovan, president of Polar USA. "Being able to partner with industry leaders like Nike and Apple who share our passion for sports and technology allows us to deliver what the consumer has asked for by providing the best each company has to offer all in one product."
The Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, will be available from June 2010 in the United States, followed by Canada and major EU countries from the beginning of July. On sale through authorized Polar retailers, Nike-owned retail stores and through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), the Polar WearLink®+ that works with Nike+, is sold as a Polar accessory set with a user manual. Compatible Polar training computers can be purchased separately.
Notes to Editors
Recommended retail price: $69.95
Compatible Polar training computers:
All Polar training computers utilizing 5 kHz transmission technology, including Polar FT80, FT60, FT40, FT7, FT4, FT2, FT1, RS400, RS300X, RS100, CS400, CS300, CS200 and CS100. Please check the up-to-date list of compatible training computers from the Polar web site.Water resistance of Polar products is tested according to International IEC 60529 IPx7 (1m, 30min, 20°C).Not suitable for bathing or swimming. Protected against wash splashes and raindrops. Do not wash with a pressure washer.Not suitable for swimming. Protected against wash splashes, sweat, raindrops etc. Do not wash with a pressure washer.Suitable for bathing and swimming.Suitable for swimming and snorkeling (without air tanks).
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
About Polar
Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977. Polar now operates internationally in more than 80 countries. Polar heart rate and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body from valuable training guidance and feedback, to enabling individuals to improve their fitness level and sports performance. Polar technology is key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the world. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polarusa.com.
About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.
I hope this one works with Suunto watches too.
@nekoeth0
Doddle Wabber.
Who actually buys this stuff?
I dont know 1 person who buys any kind of Nike heath accessory, and I live in Canada..
@Technologeee I live in canada and this stuff gets me off my butt every second morning to do a run in High park downtown Toronto.
No kidding. What ever happened to putting your finger to your neck? Or just concentrate on your pulse in your ear.
What do you need a bunch of expensive electronics for? Running is about being unencumbered and breaking limits. I don't need cushy electronics strapped to me to do either of those things.
@James Sonne
Some people, myself included, enjoy having the metrics to track progress over time.
What's good for the goose isn't always what's good for the gander.
@Technologeee I live in Canada, and use the Garmin version of this stuff.
I like tracking my bike ride to see how I'm handling the hills.
The pulse finger technique isn't that accurate.... I like being sure of having a heart rate of 155 instead of 170. Those would be two different heart rate zones, but would be the difference between 16 beats and 17 beats measuring for 6 seconds.
Tapping my device's screen gives me an instant reading NOW... no distracting myself for more than half a second.
@James Sonne
You cant really keep track of your puls while exercising, by putting your finger to the neck, and you do need puls feedback while training.
Different pulse zones, give different results.
For example, burning fat is done best in a ceratin interval, over or below does not burn fat as good. SO if you want to burn fat, you couldreally benefit from keeping track of your pulse.
I remember when running looked normal.
Now days runners look cyborgs on a mission to destroy.
No Iphone 3GS?
@Junior My concern as well.
Or how about iPhone 4?
@Junior
If you want to track your heart rate on the iPhone, the only solution presently is the Digifit™ Ecosystem. The Digifit™ Connect accessory, available at Digifit.com, is similar to the Nike+ Sport Kit's "receiver" in that it uses Apple's 30-pin connector and receives ultra-low power wireless signals from sensors. Digifit however, uses interoperable ANT+ technology which has been adopted by leading fitness companies such as Garmin, Saris, Adidas and Star Trac to name a few. So for example, with Digifit's iRunner™ app you can use a Garmin heart rate monitor and foot pod (same form factor as Nike+ sensor but replaceable battery) and you are good to go! Digifit also is compatible with cycling sensors such as speed and cadence and even power meters. We also work with ANT+ weight scales and soon will add ANT+ blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters.
Why the hell would I run on my ipod nano?
@dennykins Because you want a reason to replace it with a touch.
Nokia wrote support for this very brand of belt into their Sports Tracker application but only ever sold the Nokia-compatible belt in a bundle with an N79. So basically no-one could buy the damn thing no matter how much they wanted to give Polar their money.
$70?! wtf?
They need to make software for this that can detect an emergency (sudden rapid change in heart rate and/org other parameters) .. then alert the user of it .. if the user doesn't respond after 5 tries .. then the band should make a call and send the cops or emergency services. This would fight back against child abductions too.
@JS
>:O
@Technologeee
**** U
Looks like one of those tracking anklets they give criminals.
everyone talks about the 5g nano, but does it work with the 4g nano?
@wktaylor No. Only 5g nano and the new Sportband so far. There is still a question iPhone 3g/3gs and iPod touch 3rd gen.
@Adam Miarka re iPhone
If you want to track your heart rate on the iPhone, the only solution presently is the Digifit™ Ecosystem. The Digifit™ Connect accessory, available at Digifit.com, is similar to the Nike+ Sport Kit's "receiver" in that it uses Apple's 30-pin connector and receives ultra-low power wireless signals from sensors. Digifit however, uses interoperable ANT+ technology which has been adopted by leading fitness companies such as Garmin, Saris, Adidas and Star Trac to name a few. So for example, with Digifit's iRunner™ app you can use a Garmin heart rate monitor and foot pod (same form factor as Nike+ sensor but replaceable battery) and you are good to go! Digifit also is compatible with cycling sensors such as speed and cadence and even power meters. We also work with ANT+ weight scales and soon will add ANT+ blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters.
I use the Nike+iPod when I run and find it quite useful to track my progress over time, but aside from not having an interest in knowing my heartrate, I just know that strap would really start to irritate me a few km's into a trek.
@To Hell
By you commet, its seems very obvious that you havent tried using a decent pulse watch while running.
You hardly notice the belt.... and there are other sensations that you feel in you body when getting tired that overshadows the feeling of wearing a pulsebelt.
@To Hell
Actually heart rate monitors are a little annoying at first but they are kind of like wallets ... when you first start with one in your back pocket it is awkward but before you know it you don't realize it is there.
@To Hell I thought the same thing until I had a Polar. I stupidly replaced it with a Garmin a while later...the Garmin HRM strap is hugely less comfy than the Polar one was. I was never even aware of the Polar one once it was on.
What about working with the iPod touch? Doesn't it have the Nike wireless interface?
@brutek I'm absolutely wondering the same thing. I use the iPod Touch with the Nike+ receiver and the Nike+ Amp remote. Will all three of these work at once?
@brutek
The Nike+ sensor works wirelessly with the iPod touch 2nd and 3rd gen versions. The Polar Wearlink+ only works with the iPod nano 5th gen when you insert the "receiver" and then the "sensor" talks to the receiver and the heart rate monitor talks to the nano. I wrote the following about the iPhone and actually it applies to all iOS devices ... all generations of iPod touch, iPhone and even iPad:
If you want to track your heart rate on an iOS device, the only solution presently is the Digifit™ Ecosystem. The Digifit™ Connect accessory, available at Digifit.com, is similar to the Nike+ Sport Kit's "receiver" in that it uses Apple's 30-pin connector and receives ultra-low power wireless signals from sensors. Digifit however, uses interoperable ANT+ technology which has been adopted by leading fitness companies such as Garmin, Saris, Adidas and Star Trac to name a few. So for example, with Digifit's iRunner™ app you can use a Garmin heart rate monitor and foot pod (same form factor as Nike+ sensor but replaceable battery) and you are good to go! Digifit also is compatible with cycling sensors such as speed and cadence and even power meters. We also work with ANT+ weight scales and soon will add ANT+ blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters.
Man, this better work with the iPod Touch as well. But Apple does seem to be actively trying to get me to never purchase an Apple product again, so I wouldn't be that surprised if it doesn't. I'll just have to hope and wait for it to come out.
@TheOmni
No need to wait or hope ... Don't worry ... there is a solution: If you want to track your heart rate on any generation iOS device (iPod touch, iPhone or iPad), the only solution presently is the Digifit™ Ecosystem. The Digifit™ Connect accessory, available at Digifit.com, is similar to the Nike+ Sport Kit's "receiver" in that it uses Apple's 30-pin connector and receives ultra-low power wireless signals from sensors. Digifit however, uses interoperable ANT+ technology which has been adopted by leading fitness companies such as Garmin, Saris, Adidas and Star Trac to name a few. So for example, with Digifit's iRunner™ app you can use a Garmin heart rate monitor and foot pod (same form factor as Nike+ sensor but replaceable battery) and you are good to go! Digifit also is compatible with cycling sensors such as speed and cadence and even power meters. We also work with ANT+ weight scales and soon will add ANT+ blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters.
@Digifit The footpod won't fit in the slot that's made into the sole of my nike shoes and the adapter that plugs into the iPod Touch won't fit into my jogging armband and because of the inherit limitations in an iPod Touch I don't believe I'd be able to run both the digifit heart rate monitor thing as well as my normal Nike+ app. It's nice that there is a company that's attempting to fill the demand, but I don't think that particular solution would work for me.
I posted the iPhone / iPod question on the Nike+ forums and received this response from a Nike+ rep:
"I am not able to comment on the reasons behind the decisions regarding compatible devices, either from a Nike or an Apple standpoint ... Right now, the bottom line is that the Polar WearLink+ is compatible with the 5G iPod nano, Nike+ SportBand, certain Polar training computers, and certain compatible gym equipment. I am sorry that, for practical and business reasons, it wasn't possible to extend that compatibility to everyone."
So they've limited this useful device to an extremely small subset of the already small subset of Apple users on Nike+.
FAIL!