The new platform is called BodyMedia FIT™ Mobile which integrates your body’s data with smartphone apps on iPhone® and Android™ mobile devices. The new product line includes two new technologies that can keep you connected to your body information and keep you motivated all day to make healthy choices.

• Downloadable Mobile Apps for current users that allow you to log your food and see a snapshot of your personal activity manager throughout the day based on the last time you synced your Armband. BodyMedia FIT™ Armband BW with Bluetooth® wireless technology communicates directly with a smartphone to provide real-time caloric burn data, physical activity levels and steps taken right on your phone to track your fitness goals. There is also a food logging tool and a feature to create a personalized workout based upon your caloric, activity or step targets right on the spot.

So we put the concept of this exciting new technology to the test at our product launch event. First I should say since we aren’t a conventional company, we celebrated the launch with an event at a ping-pong club called SPiN in New York City. Yes, there is an actual club in the middle of New York City where you can play ping-pong!

During the course of the event, I was paired up with a national ping-pong champion and I am proud to say I held my own (okay, he was using his cell phone as a paddle). But, what I found even more interesting was the amount of calories that I burned during this serious ping-pong challenge. Since I was wearing the new Armband BW, I was able to see my calorie burn level in real-time and I was AMAZED at the amount of calories burned just playing ping-pong – 120 calories in 15 minutes. Had I done it for an hour, wow! Now keeping up with the pro player would have been a whole different story. Seeing how my calorie count jumped right there on my smartphone, I was already plotting what tasty dinner I might find in New York City that evening. My example is a true testament to the value of having real time information to manage physical activity and food choices. It’s all in the power of the data!

Android users can download the app free of charge from the Android Market; iPhone users can download the app for free from the Apple App Store. The Armband is available on Amazon.com as well as through the BodyMedia website …and just in case your best friend doesn’t have the secret power of BodyMedia’s data, now through Dec. 31 we are offering free UPS Ground shipping so you can motivate each other in a new way to compare your real time data.

I am interested to hear some of your activities that you are surprised burn a lot of calories.

Apple, the Apple logo, and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Permissions. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by BodyMedia, Inc is under license.

Contestants on The Biggest Loser have been using the bodybugg to help them take control of their weight loss goals by providing an easy, accurate way to know how many calories they are consuming and expending daily.

bodybugg is licensed through BodyMedia’s fitness club partner 24 Hour Fitness.

If you want more information about our products, click here.