Microsoft Band Fitness Tracker and Cross-Platform Health Service Launched

Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled its much-anticipated fitness tracker, dubbed Microsoft Band, priced at $199 (approximately Rs. 12,000). The Microsoft band is available starting Thursday on the company's online and retail store in the US.

The Redmond giant's Band fitness tracker is compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices. Along with features like text, email, and Twitter alerts accessible on the slim touchscreen (size unspecified), the Band includes 10 different sensors to track steps, heart rate, and more.

The built-in UV sensor on the Microsoft Band helps identifying stress levels, sun exposure and a galvanic skin response measurement, according to Microsoft. Windows Phone 8.1 users can ask Cortana to take notes or set reminders with their voice from the Band. Using built-in GPS on Microsoft Band, Cortana will also be able to provide driving directions, traffic information, sports, stocks, weather, and more.

"It's the most advanced band we've seen in terms of technology on the wrist, [...] and it's really designed to do two things: have people live healthier, and be more productive, by having a band that can serve on the opposite side of your watch, worn 24 hours a day, and get some of the most accurate data that you can possibly get," said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Devices and Services, while speaking to The Verge.

Microsoft claims that the Band can last up to 48 hours on a single charge. The Redmond giant has also launched a companion health app called "Microsoft Health" that includes a cloud service for users to store and combine health and fitness data. The companion app is available for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices via respective app's store. The cross-platform Microsoft Health service can gather data from Microsoft's Band as well as from other devices, says the company.