Report: Samsung to partner with Under Armour to market fitness devices

By Aditi Pai
10:45 am
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Samsung Gear FitSamsung might partner with Under Armour to market Samsung's wearable health devices, according to a report from Yonhap News. The report also suggests Samsung and Under Armour are pursuing this partnership to counter Apple's relationship with Nike, which has been going strong for a few years now.

Nike and Apple's relationship was highlighted recently when the smartphone maker announced that Nike+ would be one of the first third party apps to integrate with HealthKit, Apple's new native health platform. Until last month, Nike had also shown little interest in launching an Android version of its Nike+ FuelBand companion app. 

Samsung's potential relationship with Under Armour to market its wearable devices wouldn't be the company's first partnership with the retail giant. A few weeks ago, Samsung announced plans to launch a new version of its latest smartphone, called the Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport. The new phone was developed in partnership with MapMyFitness, which was acquired by Under Armour for $150 million last year.

Through this deal, MapMyFitness will offer 12 months of a MapMyFitness MVP membership to Galaxy S5 Sport owners. The MVP membership offers extra features on top of tracking fitness including customized audio coaching, training plans, and live tracking. Both the sport version of the Galaxy S5 smartphone and the original version have heart rate sensors built into the back, but Samsung's sport version also offers a textured shell, dust resistance, and water resistance for the active user.

Samsung, which has offered its own native health app, S Health, for several years, launched various health-related products in the past few months. The copmany launched new smartwatches, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, that have built-in heart rate sensors and a wristworn activity tracker. Then, a few months ago, Samsung announced that it was working on an investigational device, called Simband, that will offer multiple health sensors.

Under Armour could also benefit from another relationship with a fitness-minded company. Since Under Armour's acquisition, the company has made use of MapMyFitness' data to more effectively sell apparel. In May, the company explained it was using MapMyFitness' information on when users work out and how they work out to offer them the right kind of apparel.

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