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Chicago, Illinois, USA. (BUSINESS WIRE) — Sprint is stepping up its presence in the growing health and fitness markets, and has announced the launch of an exclusive device from Samsung Telecommunications America and a collaboration with health and fitness companies Under Armour and MapMyFitness to offer mobile solutions.

Sprint (NYSE:S) will provide convenient mobile access to fitness tracking, educational information, and music, as well as offer applications to help consumers as they exercise, watch what they eat and take better care of themselves.

On Friday, July 25 Sprint will launch the Samsung Galaxy S® 5 Sport, an exclusive new Spark-enabled smartphone with both the hardware and software for health-conscious users. Among the handset’s features is S Health™1, an integrated mobile health platform to access health information, map out workouts, and make healthier eating choices. It also monitors heart rate before and after activity with a built-in monitor. Samsung’s exclusive Activity Zone app is preloaded on Galaxy S 5 Sport offering the ability to open active lifestyle features, including a barometer, compass, flashlight and stopwatch from a single screen.

The Galaxy S 5 Sport features a textured body making the smartphone easier to grip. It features three hard keys so that the smartphone is easier to operate when the user is active. The Galaxy S 5 Sport is also IP67 water- and dust-resistant2.

The device will serve as the launch pad for Sprint Fit Live, said to be a complete mobile health and fitness package giving customers instant access to their favourite fitness applications and activities, relevant health information when they want it and integration capability with their Spotify playlists. Sprint Fit Live also will be available on all new Sprint Android-powered smartphones in 2014.

Sprint Fit Live — Key features of Sprint Fit Live include the ability to:

• Track, monitor, and share workout activity with 12 months of free MapMyFitness MVP, which includes premium content such as customized audio coaching, training plans, live tracking and more. MapMyFitness is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Under Armour, a leading performance and innovation brand.
• Access Spotify Workout playlists with free Spotify premium for six months for customers who are on Sprint Framily plans or three months for other Sprint customers.
• Live the Healthy Lifestyle by receiving updated smart, contextual health and fitness content.
• Customise the look and feel of fitness tracking, education, music and healthy living content displayed on the wallpaper or full screen experience.

 

“We continually innovate to provide our customers with new products that can improve their lives,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO, during an event in Chicago. “Previously, Sprint brought together Harman Kardon, HTC and Spotify to redefine how music should sound on the modern smartphone. Today, Sprint joins leading innovators in Samsung, Under Armour and MapMyFitness to drive technology advances for fitness, health and wellness.”

Todd Durkin, an internationally recognised performance-enhancement coach, personal trainer and author, said at the Chicago event, “Integrating fitness and an active and healthy lifestyle into technology is the cornerstone to getting athletes moving. The Sprint Fit Live innovative platform has the ability to educate, motivate, track, monitor, measure and analyse overall fitness – there is nothing better than instant feedback for my clients to help them achieve their overall health and fitness goals.”

Starting on July 25, customers who purchase Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport will get US$50 off Samsung Gear Fit to help achieve health and fitness goals by tracking steps and monitoring heart rate. .

Sprint accelerating mobile health

In addition to the health and fitness innovations announced, Sprint is actively helping shape the evolution of mobile health at the start-up level. From mid-March to early June, Sprint conducted in Kansas City the inaugural Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator powered by Techstars, an immersive, mentor-driven programme for start-up companies. The participating companies are developing solutions that include hardware, software platforms, transformative services, big data and mobile applications. At Demo Day June 12, Sprint announced plans for the second Sprint Mobile Health Accelerator powered by Techstars, coming in 2015.

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. aims to transform the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. It employs 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion.

Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionised how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand’s products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. Under Armour’s wholly owned subsidiary, MapMyFitness, powers one of the world’s largest Connected Fitness communities. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Sprint (NYSE: S) offers a range of wireless and wireline communications services. Sprint served nearly 55 million customers as of March 31, 2014 and is widely recognised for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone.

1 This device, S Health, and related software is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.

2 This device has been tested and received an IP (Ingress Protection) rating of IP67, which tests for dust intrusion and for water submersion up to 1 metre for up to 30 minutes. Not shockproof. Covers must be tightly closed.