New Balance unveiled its inaugural smart wearable from its Digital Sport Division with RunIQ, a “made to run” smartwatch built in collaboration with Intel, Google and Strava, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
In tandem with the launch of RunIQ, New Balance will also debut PaceIQ, Bluetooth wireless sport headphones, with sound by Jabra.
RunIQ aims to help athletes focus on their performance, engineered with Intel Inside featuring a built-in GPS, heart rate monitor, lap button, interval capability and marathon distance battery life.
“New Balance has a 110-year heritage of product development and innovation in the running category, and RunIQ represents our commitment to helping athletes achieve unparalleled fitness experiences,” said Rob DeMartini, president and CEO of New Balance. “A smartwatch for runners made by runners, RunIQ combines our expertise in running with the best engineering advances through breakthrough collaborations with some of the biggest players in the technological industry.”
Through the collaboration with Strava, RunIQ allows runners to upload and share workouts with a global community of athletes. Runners can also sync, store and listen to Google Play Music from an Android phone and stay connected when connected to Wifi or Bluetooth. RunIQ is waterproof up to 5 ATM.
“Intel technology is reinventing the boundaries of computing to evolve the way people get fit, stay active and improve their performance,” said Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel Corporation. “Our collaboration with New Balance brings to market a smartwatch with enhanced design and functionality, resulting in a smart and connected device for runners that makes amazing experiences possible.”
To complement RunIQ, New Balance has created a digital experience through the New Balance Global Run Club. The digital and physical community of runners is powered by Strava, a social network for athletes, and utilizes its platform to bring New Balance runners together, online and offline. NB Run Club runners can use Strava to connect with each other, track performance, share their favorite routes and celebrate accomplishments. NB Run Club athletes also participate in group and individual virtual training programs for key races and running events, as well as virtual races between individuals and clubs. Physical NB Run Club activity is centered in New Balance stores and includes local runs, group training, alternative training and classes.
Fully integrated with RunIQ, the PaceIQ are lightweight wireless sports headphones that feature a dedicated Sports Button that provides real-time audio in-ear RunIQ performance updates to help enhance training effectiveness. The PaceIQ also enable remote control access for both music and calls.
“Jabra PaceIQ Wireless not only extends our range of unique sports audio solutions, but helps athletes enhance their sports experience too,” said Calum MacDougall, SVP marketing at Jabra. “These headphones are made with best-in-class sound technology which means that you have access to premium sound quality for improved motivation.”
Available for pre-order at newbalance.com starting January 4, RunIQ will launch at retail on February 1. RunIQ will be available at launch in black and gray face; accessories including watch bands and chargers are also available. PaceIQ will be available at retail February 1 and includes 3 sets of EarGels, 1 FitClip and a USB cable.
RunIQ was developed through New Balance Digital Sport, a division formed in 2015 to connect consumers with technologies to improve their athletic performance.
Photo courtesy New Balance, Intel
