Who has the time or money for the gym nowadays? And even if you do, jostling for a few minutes on the machines and sweating it out next to Roid Rage and Sally Selfie is not most people’s idea of a good time.
Why put yourself through that, especially when it’s no longer necessary to look any further than your smartphone for personalized health and fitness plans. Microsoft is the latest company to get on the health and fitness app bandwagon, with the launch of the Bing Health & Fitness App on Monday. As the straight-to-the-point name suggests, the app offers both a diet tracker, with nutritional information for a whole whack of different foods as well as a fitness portion containing hundreds of workouts.With an increasing number of people eschewing traditional diet and workout techniques in favour more convenient smartphone-based ones, it’s no wonder that the Global Sports and Fitness Apps Market is picking up steam, with a CAGR of more than 23 percent from 2014-2018.
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The number of apps on the market is astronomical, covering all smartphone platforms, fitness levels and diet requirements. Some are fun, creative and even a bit bizarre, like fan favourite Zombies, Run! This immersive running game motivates beginner to expert runners, not by delivering trite inspirational banter, but by giving users various scenarios that see them running for their lives from the undead hoard.
Zombies, Run! is definitely a game-based option for those with trouble motivating themselves to get off the couch. Other offerings get right to the point, like popular fitness brand Runtastic. According to the company website, Runtastic “lets you measure all the necessary data to optimize your workout results…the app automatically records elapsed time, distance, calories burned, speed, elevation and tracks exercises via the onboard GPS and through satellites.”
Rather than just offering one app, Runtastic developers cover their bases by putting out a range of apps for Windows Phone, Blackberry, Android and iPhone. From a basic pedometer app to track steps, to running, biking and conditioning apps, Runtastic has beginners to full-on fitness enthusiasts covered.
Since many of the best fitness apps are free, or just a few bucks for the ‘pro’ version, they are becoming a far more cost effective option than pricey gym memberships. They also offer consumers the ability to track caloric intake and see progress in a way that was previously impossible. And with so many different options out there, there is literally something for everyone.
But while the wide number of options available is great news for consumers, it’s not so good for the health and fitness app industry. It’s a fragmented market, and with so much out there is can be hard for consumers to really see the difference from one app to another. On the bright side, this has precipitated the development of highly customizable solutions to draw in potential customers.
So while a fragmented market might be considered a market challenge in some circles, increased competition among vendors is leading to bigger and better offerings for consumers, with each company contending to create the best fitness apps. No matter which way you cut it, it’s a market that’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
For more insights, including market growth drivers view our Global Sports and Fitness Apps Market 2014-2018 report.
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