Xiaomi and Li-Ning are working on a pair of 'smart' running shoes
Chinese mobile juggernaut Xiaomi is already in the wearables game, but it'll soon equip runners' training sessions. The phone and accessory maker is working on a pair of "smart" running shoes with Li-Ning -- a China-based footwear company with a list endorsers that includes Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade. Each pair will have chips in its soles to track activity, beaming data to a mobile app to keep tabs on progress, analyze form and celebrate training milestones. The tech is being developed alongside Huami Technology, the wearable manufacturer that lent a hand with Xiaomi's Mi band. There's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but runners in China can expect "an affordable price," according to a Li-Ning statement.
With an increasingly crowded fitness market in the US, and Xiaomi's focus on accessories in the States, it'll be interesting to see if the shoes make it across the pond. Li-Ning's shoes are available to US customers, including the aforementioned Way of Wade sneakers. Of course, Apple and Nike put an iPod-friendly sensor in shoes back in 2006, and Adidas' miCoach Speed Cell tallies speed, distance and more for a range of activities.
