Polar has inked a deal with Nike to connect a wireless-enabled heart rate monitor, called WearLink, to Nike+, one of the most high profile connected fitness products on the market. Users strap the WearLink accessory around their chest and it transmits the user's heart rate wirelessly to their Nike+ iPod Sport Kit or Nike SportBand.

The new accessory enables users to monitor their beats per minute while they run with their Nike+ SportBand, or hear spoken feedback of their BPM during their Nike+ iPod workout. Following the workout, users can track how long they ran in their target heart rate zone and track heart rate trends over time.

Nike+ has long been referred to as the quintessential example of a personal area network (PAN) product. A sensor in the user's Nike shoe wirelessly interacts with the user's iPod, iPhone or Nike SportsBand. The Nike+ system tracks elapsed time of the workout, the distance traveled, pace and calories burned. With the new Polar accessory, heart rate can be added to the list.

According to the companies' press release: "The soft textile chest strap seamlessly adapts to the user's body shape, bringing full freedom of movement to the training session. The comfortable textile strap is also machine-washable and with its hook mechanism, the transmitter is just as quick to put on as it is to take off. A user replaceable battery also increases the ease-of-use."

Nike retail locations, Polar authorized retailers and the Apple online store will all carry the new WearLink for Nike+. WearLink is set to be available in the US this month for $69.95.

Great to see fitness products beginning to create interoperable products. (Zeo announced its plans to open up its API for developers last week -- RunKeeper was among the first app developers to jump at the chance to include Zeo data in its offering.)

For more from the companies' press release, read on here