OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced vívokí (veevo-key) — a small, lightweight and water resistant (10m) all-day activity monitor designed to improve employee wellness and inspire those individuals to make healthy habits stick. Vívokí seamlessly integrates into corporate wellness programs to provide motivation and accountability for participants. Vívokí records steps, distance, calories and intensity of exercise. Five LED lights indicate the user’s progress toward a personalized daily goal. The new device and wellness solution will be showcased at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in the Digital Health and Fitness area (South Hall #26300).
“With vívokí, Garmin now offers a complete portfolio of wellness and fitness devices that are suitable for an entire workplace population, no matter how big or small,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “Thanks to a simple wireless uploading process and a robust online activity database, employees and wellness providers can easily view their progress and set new goals.”
Users’ activity data is sent wirelessly from vívokí to a wellness partner’s site via a wireless access point and requires no effort from the user. These access points can be installed by a company’s IT department, allowing for hassle-free data uploads from participants’ devices. Participants can then view their progress on the wellness partner’s site or from the Garmin Connect™ mobile app.
Vívokí adds to the robust lineup of Garmin fitness devices such as the popular Forerunner® and Edge® series and the new vívofit™. These devices may all be used with corporate wellness programs through the use of the Garmin Connect API. This allows corporate wellness programs to engage employees who are already using Garmin fitness devices, because now they can validate their activities through the free online community, Garmin Connect— where users have logged over 4 billion miles to date.
"Integrating with the Garmin Connect API was an essential part of our fitness device integration strategy,” said Russell Benaroya, EveryMove CEO. “Garmin Connect was one of the most requested services by our users and Garmin has been a great partner to work with."
Garmin has been providing fitness monitoring devices for over a decade, and today offers a broad range of activity and fitness monitors to engage an entire workplace population. Garmin partners can access the API and these trusted products can be used within a company’s corporate wellness program, providing motivation and validation for the efforts of participants.
Garmin users have access to Garmin Connect, a free online community where members can review their workouts, share activities, consult training plans, engage in leader-boards and explore new places to exercise.
Wellness members, in participating plans, can choose to share their fitness data from Connect with their wellness program — a simple, one-time process. Then, every time a user uploads an activity from their device, participating wellness companies automatically receive a summary of the workout, providing objective information to recognize the member's active lifestyle.
“It’s been great working with the Garmin team to create a seamless experience for our members that provides them with all the benefits of Garmin Connect and Vitality incentives in recognition of their efforts,” said Stephen Mitchley, The Vitality Group chief operating officer.
Today, program participants are able to share fitness data from a growing list of wellness companies, including EveryMove, Redbrick Health and The Vitality Group. For more information on becoming a Garmin partner or affiliate, or to start using the Garmin API, visit www.garmin.com/corporatewellness.
Vívokí will be available spring 2014. Vívokí and the Garmin Connect API are the latest from Garmin’s expanding fitness segment, which focuses on developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives and promotes healthy and active lifestyles. Whether it’s running, cycling, or other athletic pursuits, Garmin fitness devices are becoming essential tools for athletes both amateur and elite. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other fitness products and services, go to www.garmin.com/intosports, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin.
About Garmin International Inc.
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq:GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in Switzerland, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin's virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin, Forerunner, and Edge are registered trademarks and vívokí, vívofit, and Garmin Connect are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on Forward-Looking Statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of such Form 10-K is available at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
FCC Notice: vívokí has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. These devices are not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.
