Intel buys fitness band maker Basis Science

Intel adds Basis Science, the maker of a high-end fitness tracker, to its stable of wearable devices acquisitions.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor

Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.

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Brooke Crothers

March 25, 2014 3:55 p.m. PT

Intel has acquired Basis Science, a startup that makes a high-end fitness tracker called the Basis band, adding to its stable of wearable devices acquisitions.

The Basis band is larger and more expensive than some other fitness trackers on the market, but it also offers more features.

"[Basis Health Tracker] has five sensors running all the time tracking the stuff you might expect like steps, calories, and things that other accelerometer devices do," Basis CEO Jeff Holove told CNET. "But the important thing is at a sensor and algorithm level. We're getting beyond steps to real physiology. So things like skin temperature, perspiration, and heart rate."

Intel sees this latest acquisition as a major entry point into the health-tracking market.

"The acquisition of Basis Science provides immediate entry into the market with a leader in health tracking for wearable devices," said Mike Bell, Intel vice president and general manager of the company's New Devices Group, in a statement.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Intel has been putting its weight behind wearables. Last year the company invested in Google Glass rival Recon Instruments and wearable computing device maker Thalmic Labs. The company also announced its Quark line of chips for wearable devices.