Google is planning to launch a new health service called Google Fit to collect and aggregate data from popular fitness trackers and health-related apps at the Google I/O conference.
Such a service would mark a direct challenge to Apple’s HealthKit framework, launched last week and rolling out with its new mobile platform iOS 8 this fall to aggregate data from wearable devices and apps.
Last month Samsung also unveiled similar device, called SAMI. Google Fit will aggregate data through open APIs, Google will also announce partnerships with wearable device makers at its I/O conference.
Google Fit would allow a wearable device that measures data like steps or heart rate to interface with Google’s cloud-based services, and become part of the Google Fit ecosystem.
It’s unclear if Google Fit will be a service build into the next version of Android, or a standalone app that Android users will be able to download independently. Fit will be announced at I/O under wraps but it has scheduled several developer sessions where it could conceivably talk about Google Fit.
There is a session on “wearable computing with Google” on Day 1, followed by “designing for wearables,” and then the broader “Android and cloud” session on Day 2. Google has been in this field before with Google Health, which also acted as a health portal but was shut down in 2012.
In February Samsung presented a fitness tracker Gear Fit. Microsoft will show the smartwatches next month. It is expected that they will be able to measure the pressure or distance. A clever Apple watch release, named iWatch is expected in autumn.
The Google I/O conference for developers will be held on June 25 and 26 in San Francisco. The issues related to design and mobile apps development will be discussed at the conference. A new OS Android version release and is expected and a line update of Nexus devices and Chromebook laptops.
