Fitbit Vs Apple: The Health Wars

Fitbit is reportedly developing a similar method to Apple’s ECG app that is capable of detecting heart rhythms in partnership with major a US pharmaceutical alliance.

Reuters reports that Fitbit has been accelerating into the healthcare space with the company announcing a new deal with the Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance to have Fitbit devices carry software that will help detect atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat.

It comes after the company secured a health program with the Singapore government in August to provide fitness trackers for up to a million users.

James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit, said the company is focused on making health-products more available following the arrival of Apple’s FDA cleared ECG sensor and detection software, which has increased competition in the health and wellbeing tech market.

If approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the application could pave the way for global certification for its application, something Apple has not being able to achieve.

ChannelNews reported early this year on Apple’s heart monitoring ECG app not receiving approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA).

However, Apple has managed to receive approval from both the FDA and regulators in Europe, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Fitbit alignment with US pharmaceutical alliance Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer could expedite national certification processes in the US, which could turn accelerate approval in Australia.