Nike and Apple Partner; New Tech Turns iPod Nano Into A Sports Computer & Music Hub
Sports and Music Collide With Nike+ Products
Nike and Apple announced a music and sports partnership with the launch of innovative Nike+iPod products. The first product developed through this partnership is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a wireless system that allows Nike+ footwear to communicate with the iPod nano. The dynamic combination brilliantly extends the iPod system into sport creating an extremely personal running and workout experience.
“Nike+iPod is a partnership between two iconic, global brands with a shared passion for creating meaningful consumer product experiences through design and innovation,” Nike CEO Mark Parker said. “This is the first result, and Nike+iPod will change the way people run. Nike+iPod creates a better running experience. We see many more such Nike+ innovations in the future.”
The new Nike+ Air Zoom Moire is the first footwear designed to talk to iPod. Nike plans to make many of its leading footwear styles Nike+ ready, connecting millions of consumers to the Nike+iPod experience. With the Nike+ footwear connected to iPod nano through the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, information on time, distance, calories burned and pace is stored on iPod and displayed on the screen; real-time audible feedback also is provided through headphones. The kit includes an in-shoe sensor and a receiver that attaches to iPod. A new Nike Sport Music section on the iTunes Music Store and a new nikeplus.com personal service site help maximize the Nike+iPod experience.
“We’re working with Nike to take music and sport to a new level,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The result is like having a personal coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout.”
Specially designed Nike apparel, including jackets, tops, shorts and an iPod nano armband, bring together the Nike+iPod experience with waterproof pockets that accommodate iPod nano and are designed to make it easy to operate while staying tuned to your music during an active workout. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is expected to be available sometime in July for a suggested retail price of $29 (US) through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores, Apple Authorized Resellers as well as Nike.com, Niketown, NikeWomen stores and select retail stores in the US.
The Future: Insanely smart extension of the iPod platform. Teaming with Nike was a good move for Apple, but an even better move for Nike who’s over designed, yet under performing MP3 players run out of energy long before their owners do…
