AT&T wants to help us track how lazy (or not) we are
The carrier plans to launch a health platform to help monitor and break down data from fitness trackers. Separately, AT&T will also power Philips GoSafe's medical alert service.
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BARCELONA -- AT&T is tapping into the health field, covering both young and old.
The US's second-largest wireless carrier said it was partnering with fitness data tracking company Tictrac to create ForHealth, a platform designed to break down your data in useful ways. Separately, the company also struck a deal to power the medical alert service for senior citizens offered by Philips GoSafe.
The partnerships are part of a broader strategy to expand into different areas, connecting wireless products beyond the traditional smartphone and tunnelling into new areas like health and fitness. With the growth prospects for the core wireless business ebbing, telecom companies are hoping to find revenue in new areas. One of AT&T's avenues for growth is in health.
The ForHealth platform is a free wellness and fitness platform that can integrate with different fitness apps and devices such as your smartphone or another tracker, taking in data and spitting out useful insights. One example is an assessment that an individual runs further on days when they slept for more than six hours. Users can also opt into content streams, challenges and specially tailored wellness services.
"We saw a real need to bring the data together in meaningful ways for customers to take positive action towards their wellness goals," Chris Penrose, head of the Internet of things organization at AT&T.
The platform will be made available in the second quarter of 2015.
On the flip side, AT&T is also working with Philips GoSafe on its mobile medical alert service. AT&T's network powers the GoSafe pendant, allowing it to connect to Philips' emergency call response center. It has six different kinds of location sensors to help emergency responders find the person even if he or she is indoors or in a parking garage.
"Our mission is to serve the safety, health and connectedness needs of seniors globally and make the aging experience better for seniors, caregivers and clinicians," said Kimberly O'Loughlin, general manager for Philips Home Monitoring.