Microsoft optimizes its Band bracelet app for use with iOS

The updates is it so highly focused on tools that can assess overall health and recommend ways to improve, with a detailed view of the quality of sleep, for example. You can even calculate the volume of oxygen consumed during exercise, a key element in fitness.

These are improvements that, according to Microsoft, take into account the interest of users to achieve greater integration with apps and access new functions and features.

This is a smart move on the part of Microsoft, since the firm may not be able to compete with its bracelet in some aspects such as style with an Apple Watch, and there are more and more apps on the Android Wear platform, so they can be so productive with Band’s. That’s why this is applying his knowledge in the areas of cloud and business intelligence, to the bracelet to achieve a competitive advantage.

Now it will not even be necessary to have a Band bracelet to access the apps. Microsoft had previously ported its Health app to Android and iOS, in addition to Windows Phone, but they had to pair the app with Band or another fitness bracelet to access their data. Hereinafter, users can use the data on steps or calories collected by an Android phone 4.4 or iPhone 5s, or later.

One of the most interesting aspects of the new update is that they will be able to compare their own results with those of other users with similar characteristics, as long as they want to share their data, in addition to check its evolution history.

Further, Microsoft Band integrates with the MapMyRide and Strava cycling apps to allow users to share their data using these apps.

The bracelet is currently available in the United States and, for a few days, in the United Kingdom.