<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Gigaom]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://gigaom.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Kevin C. Tofel]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[http://search.gigaom.com/author/kevintofel/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Nike+ moves from app to platform with four new device partners]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>After going it alone with health tracking hardware, Nike is expanding relationships to use its Nike+ app with non-Nike devices. The company announced <a href="http://news.nike.com/news/nike-running-expands-global-partnerships-to-motivate-more-runners-around-the-world">four new hardware partners on Friday &#8212; Garmin, Tom Tom, Wahoo Fitness and Netpulse</a> &#8212; with a new &#8220;Partners&#8221; app feature to connect the Nike+ app with third-party devices.</p>
<blockquote id="quote-the-updated-nike-run"><p>The updated Nike+ Running App makes pairing with the new partners easy. Users will see a “Partners” screen when they update or download the app. The “Connect a Partner” button guides users to settings to manage preferences and establish the seamless connection between Nike+ and the partner apps and devices.</p></blockquote>
<p>The idea here is to expand the use of Nike+ and give the app&#8217;s users more freedom to choose a wearable device or software platform. That&#8217;s a sharp change from Nike&#8217;s several-year approach of exercise tracking with devices ranging from footpod step-trackers and, more recently, its FuelBand wearable band.</p>
<p>Change has been in the wind for some time, however, as <a href="https://search.gigaom.com/company/nike/">Nike</a> first kept its software limited to <a href="https://search.gigaom.com/company/apple/">Apple</a> iOS devices for several years and recently <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nike.plusgps">releasing a Nike+ app for Android</a>. And roughly a year ago there were <a href="https://gigaom.com/2014/04/18/nike-has-reportedly-fired-most-of-its-fuelband-team-and-is-getting-out-of-the-hardware-business/">reports of Nike abandoning its own hardware efforts and laying off much of the Fuelband team</a>. As a long-time runner, I welcome the change from app to platform; it&#8217;s long overdue.</p>
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