Garmin Moves Deeper Into The Fitness Market

“A new fitness watch designed as the lynchpin for a new generation of smart exercise gear was introduced today by Olathe-based Garmin International. The Garmin FR60 was designed to connect wirelessly to a new line of exercise equipment indoors, but also was designed to allow triathletes to track their progress running, cycling and swimming outdoors. In developing the watch, Garmin redesigned a previous product, the Forerunner 50. The new watch is smaller, and resembles a traditional watch more than its predecessor. Like the Forerunner 50, the FR60 doesn't use GPS technology to track an exerciser's progress, relying on a foot pod that uses sensors to measure stride, speed, cadence, distance and calories burned. ‘Indoors or out, it’s easier than ever to set fitness goals and track your progress with the fashionable yet affordable FR60,’ said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. ‘While you exercise, the easy-to-use FR60 accurately tracks your time, calories burned, heart rate and other data from linked fitness equipment.’ The FR60 connects wirelessly with a heart rate monitor, foot pod, a bike speed and cadence sensor, and a new line of exercise equipment. That exercise gear line, from other manufacturers, is expected to be unveiled at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association trade show in March. The gear - treadmills, spin bikes, elliptical trainers - will use Garmin's ANT technology to link wirelessly to the FR60. Like other Garmin ANT-powered gear, the FR60 will download data from fitness sessions viw a home computer to the Garmin Connect Web site.”


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