iPod on the run with Nike

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 24 May 2006 06:46

IT Industry - Strategy

New technology from Apple has been incorporated with Nike running shoes, which will allow athlete's to track their performance on iPod Nanos while they're training. The system, called Nike Plus, which retails for US$29, involves a chip with wireless transmitter inserted into the lining of a shoe and a receiver attached to the iPod.

The software part includes embedded software to track performance and a voice over to communicate the details to the runner, with a new menu item on the Nano called Nike+iPod, which is added via a software download. Completing the system is a special section on iTunes called Nike Sport Music Selection and an exercise management section on the NikePlus website.

Nike plans to bring out a range of shoes to support Nike Plus from July and the company expects to eventually incorporate the facility in most of its range by sometime in the final quarter.

Since Apple has come up with all the technology, it's reasonable to assume that it could easily be incorporated into other brands of running shoes. iPod has 80% of the portable music player market and is considered a cool item among the new generation of music listeners. Nike is also a very strong brand but, unlike iPod, also has strong competition. There has been no announcement concerning the exclusivity of the arrangement. It would not be surprising to hear that other sports shoe manufacturers are lining up to speak with Apple.