Myntra now lets you build a network of wearable devices; launches Blink Go
Blink Go can be a gamechanger in the wearables’ market, as it competes with Xiaomi, Timex, and Fitbit.
Online fashion marketplace Myntra is taking the next step in lifestyle with ‘Blink Go,’ a fitness wearable, developed completely in-house at the Myntra Innovation Labs. The product will be launched as part of Myntra’s flagship End of Reason Sale from June 22 to 25. Although the product is priced at Rs 4,999, it is available for Rs 1,679 during the launch days.
Blink Go helps you monitor fitness parameters and provides activity tracking such as steps, distance, calories, sleep and heart rate sensor. It has a colour display and designer straps, and can even work under water for up to a depth of three metres.
Its unique feature ‘Leaderboards’ allow users to challenge themselves and friends on fitness tasks and goals, with a rank on the leaderboard, depending on their scores. It also enables users to share stats or a selfie upon reaching a milestone in their activity, and share it with friends.
The device can also be synced with smartphones to receive standard alerts and notifications.
Blink Go is built from the ground up on the Myntra Wearables Platform (MWP) that creates wearables, which can discover and communicate with each other. This platform will form the basis for all future development of such products.
Standing out
Designed in India and manufactured in China with optimising hardware cost, Myntra aims to bring a great experience through the feature rich app. Blink Go claims to have up to five days of battery power.
The ecommerce major also plans to launch five or six devices under MWP. It claims that the app automatically detects the switching between devices. All MWP-enabled devices can talk to each other. This helps the user make his or her own personal network with these devices.
If your running is slow, your smart shoes will tell your smart watch the same, which will tell you to run fast through your smart earphones! Once Myntra gives MWP for third parties (for the whole ecosystem) your MWP-enabled Nike shoes will talk to you through MWP-enabled earphones!
This MWP-enabled personal network is accessible via app or desktop. (The network needs at least two devices)
Ambitious target
In a press release, Jeyendran Venugopal, Chief Technology Officer, Myntra, said, “The market for smart wearables in India has been growing at a CAGR of 140 percent over the last five years with 85 percent of sales happening online. We are planning to bring in smart features through a combination of varied sensors, and connectivity modules for audio wear, footwear, eyewear and apparels, and are looking at acquire 10-20 percent of the wearables market over the next three years.”
If Blink Go is launched on Myntra’s sister concerns Jabong and Flipkart too, this target might be possible. Since the product is not India-specific, it could even sell abroad through the new alliance with Walmart.
Blink Go is taking on the likes of Xiaomi’s multiple models, including Mi-HRX (which are cheaper but just count steps), Huawei’s Pro-activity tracker, TimeX Blink (which does not monitor heart rate), Lenovo smart band, and Fitbit smart watch. Then there is the Apple Watch that can detect even cardiac defects, but costs Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. Myntra Innovation Labs includes the team of WitWorks, a tech startup that manufactures smart wearable devices and related software, which Myntra recently acquired.