A new patent discovered by Patently Apple reveals that Apple is working on its own fitness center application for the iPhone.
The patent titled “Systems and Methods for Accessing Personalized Fitness Services Using a Portable Electronic Device” was originally filed in October, 2009, and describes an app that can benefit its users by helping them with their diet; suggesting when they should go to the gym and what exercises they should do; and allowing them to compete with friends and be ranked on their performance.
Services are broken down into four categories: New Customers, Getting There, In the Gym, and Post Workout; which will help users find their nearest fitness center and motivate them to actively attend, encourage them to workout and suggest different exercises, and provide post-workout motivation and fitness tracking features.
The application could also see Apple team up with local fitness centers to offer memberships and workout equipment through the iPhone, in addition to offers and coupons.
The application will also feature a social side; with leaderboards that enable users to compete with friends, help to find a fitness buddy in the local area, and send post-workout messages that challenge buddies to compete.
The patent is credited to Stan Ng, a product manager and marketing director at Apple; and Michael Hailey, a former marketing manager at Apple who is now employed by Nike. Apple has a close relationship with Nike that has seen them integrate Nike+ applications into iPods and iPhones since 2006. It seems that the two companies could be working together to develop this new fitness application for iOS.
[via AppleInsider]
