Amazon gets into health tracking, challenging Apple, Fitbit

Amazon Halo and Amazon Halo Band are available for early access in the US starting today. — Business Wire/Amazon

Amazon.com Inc introduced a wearable fitness gadget called the Halo Band, entering the market for health monitoring devices dominated by Apple Inc and Fitbit Inc.

The wrist band uses what Amazon describes as artificial intelligence software to monitor a range of personal wellness metrics, from physical activity to sleep and even mood. The device’s features include 3D scans for body fat and voice-tone detection to analyse emotion. The related Halo service will come with an app, and users will be able to connect their accounts to third-party programs to further monitor weight and health.