Azumio's Instant Heart Rate app has passed the 10 million download mark, the company announced this week, making it one of the most popular health apps on the market.
The app claims to measure a user's heart rate in only 10 seconds by using the smartphone's camera and flash to track color changes in the light that passes through the index finger as new blood is delivered with each heartbeat. Users place a finger over the camera lens on their smartphone, hold it steady, and the app will display the current heart rate on the screen -- no external sensors required.
The app is available in free and Pro versions, the latter of which costs $0.99 for iPhone, and $2.99 for Android.
"Being able to use your smartphone to check your heart rate makes it easy to track your level of exertion before and after exercise, figure out if you are exercising in the optimal heart training zone, or even get an idea of your overall health if you're not near a conventional monitor," stated Azumio co-founder and CEO Bojan Bernard Bostjancic in a press release. "That's why our Instant Heart Rate app has taken off so quickly. It's a wellness tool that you can carry with you 24x7."
Azumio has another of other apps in the works and already has two stress management apps, Stress Check and Stress Doctor, that builds on its heart rate sensor app and helps users to calm down.
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Read the press release after the jump.
PRESS RELEASE -- Azumio's Instant Heart Rate, a biofeedback-based heart rate monitor app for iPhones and Android devices, hit the 10 million download mark this week –just a year after launch. The app measures the user's heart rate in only 10 seconds by using the smartphone's camera and flash to track color changes in the light that passes through the index finger as new blood is delivered with every heartbeat.
The 10-million milestone is the latest in a series of achievements for Instant Heart Rate, including consistent top rankings among health and fitness apps for both the iPhone and Android platforms as well as recognition as the best health and fitness app in the 2011 Mobile Premier Awards announced in February.
The rapid adoption of the app reflects the burgeoning growth of the mobile health space. A report by mobile industry analyst research2guidance has estimated that one-third of all smartphone users, or 500 million people, will be using mobile health apps by 2015. Similarly, emerging technologies market research firm Technavio has forecast 24% growth in the mobile health market from 2010-2014.
"Being able to use your smartphone to check your heart rate makes it easy to track your level of exertion before and after exercise, figure out if you are exercising in the optimal heart training zone, or even get an idea of your overall health if you're not near a conventional monitor," said Azumio co-founder and CEO Bojan Bernard Bostjancic. "That's why our Instant Heart Rate app has taken off so quickly. It's a wellness tool that you can carry with you 24x7."
Independently tested by nurses, MDs, EMTs and fitness coaches, Instant Heart Rate operates on the same principle as the medical pulse oximeters placed over the fingertip in a doctor's office for a quick pulse reading. Simply place your finger over the camera lens in your smartphone, hold it steady, and the app will display your current heart rate on the screen in 10 seconds or less with no external sensors required.
Other features include:
Display of the user's recovery heart rate after exercise, indicating fitness level
Storage of heart rate measurements for easy retrieval from the application's History tab
Graphical charts displaying heart rate history and comparison to norms for reference
One-click sharing of heart rate measurements on Facebook or Twitter
Instant Heart Rate is available in a free version as well as a Pro version with store and history features ($.99 for iPhone, $2.99 for Android). It can be downloaded at www.instantheartrate.com.
About Azumio
Azumio is a leading developer of mobile biofeedback apps enabling consumers to monitor personal health and wellness indicators such as heart rate and stress level from their smartphones. The venture-backed company is at the forefront of the rapidly growing mobile health app movement, which is expected to affect more than one-third of smartphone users by 2015. For more information, visit www.azumio.com or follow http://twitter.com/azumioinc.
