There’s a lot of choice in the Play Store where fitness apps are concerned, and while wearable trackers such as the Fitbit have really taken off, there’s a lot people can do with just their phone. Runtastic and Runkeeper are two of the best examples that give people a lot of data about there. Runkeeper is a great app to keep track of runs, walks and more without having anything more than the app installed on your device. The platform also works with a number of other services as well, making it a great platform to keep track of your exercises. Now, Runkeeper is being acquired by popular shoe brand Asics.
Speaking on Medium, Runkeeper’s founder, Jason Jacobs, doesn’t disclose the amount, but states that “Runkeeper has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by ASICS Corporation.” For right now, users of the app won’t notice much of a difference, if at all, and Jacobs says that “not only will the Runkeeper product carry on, but we will be able to move even faster. We will be able to pursue the vision we’ve set out to pursue all along, with a partner that can bring many resources to bear that we couldn’t fathom having access to on our own.”
Asics has become known for creating some of the better shoes for athletes and keen runners, and they’re also apparently used more than any other brand by Runkeeper users, too. It’s probable that Asics is hoping to emulate Nike and Under Armour with their wearable and app offerings which have proven fairly popular as of late. Of course, just what Asics intends to do with Runkeeper is unclear for now, but some sort of smart running shoes or perhaps even a rebranding of the Asics app is on the cards. Hopefully though, Asics will keep Runkeeper’s community alive just as it is today and instead offers them smarter solutions and gives Runkeeper the sort of resources it needs to become a powerhouse app and platform to compete with the likes of Fitbit and Under Armour.