More than 40 million US smartphone owners are active users of at least one wellness or fitness app, according to research firm Parks Associates. The firm has also reported that one in four heads of household -- at homes with broadband -- use a mobile app to track their fitness or track their caloric intake.
Last year the research firm published research that estimated 41 percent of caregivers in...
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai
Last week, the FCC passed an order accelerating its text-to-911 roll out by requiring all carriers, as well as certain dedicated texting apps, to support text-to-911 by the end of the year. However, two members of the commission, Ajit Pai and Michael O'Reilly, dissented from the order, suggesting that because the public safety answering points (PSAPs) that process 911...
Samsung Galaxy S5
This Friday, Samsung is launching a new version of its latest smartphone, called the Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport. The new phone was developed in partnership with Sprint and MapMyFitness, which was acquired by Under Armour for $150 million last year.
Samsung added a textured shell to the Galaxy S5 Sport so that users might benefit from the added grip. The phone will also be dust...
Telcare's Blood Glucose Monitoring System
Verizon recently received its second FDA clearance for its converged health management software platform, which MobiHealthNews first wrote about last August. While the intended use cases and overall technical aspects of the system haven't changed, Verizon has added support for Telcare's cellular-enabled blood glucose monitoring system and Genesis...
Ideal Life's Blood Pressure Cuff
Verizon Wireless' plans for an FDA-cleared mobile health platform focused on chronic disease management and other health conditions has been in the works for some time. The software platform, officially called The Verizon Wireless Converged Health Management (CHM) Device has just secured Class II 510(k) clearance from the FDA this month. Once it commercially...
Walgreens CEO Gregory Wasson
Verizon announced the election of Walgreens CEO Gregory Wasson to its board of directors, just a week after AT&T added retired Humana CEO Michael McCallister to its board.
Wasson has been Walgreens CEO since 2009, working his way up within the company from pharmacy intern in 1980. Walgreens has been a strong driver of mobile health engagement, with a hugely...
According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 85 percent of American adults own a mobile phone, and 80 percent of those mobile phone owners use their phone to send and receive text messages. Yet the only way to contact emergency services in the event of a fire, health emergency, or criminal activity is still by dialing 9-1-1 and making a phone call.
In August of last year, FCC chairman...
Without a doubt the number of digital health startups has grown considerably these past few years and many more larger companies have dedicated teams or business units focused on digital health. With that kind of growth comes job opportunities. As it happens, in recent weeks a few digital health hires and departures caught my attention.
Julie Kling, who has served as the mobile executive business...
A major provider of retail and employer-sponsored immunizations is going wireless, and doing it in a hurry.
Mollen Immunization Clinics took the "big bang" route when it rolled out cellular-enabled Google Chromebook PCs to the more than 4,000 immunization clinics the Scottsdale, Ariz.-company runs at Walmart and Sam's Club stores nationwide. On Aug. 27, Mollen went live at nearly all of those...
NovaSom, maker of home tests for obstructive sleep apnea, has its first provider partnership for its AccuSom Deliver out-of-center sleep testing program, and it's a big one. The Glen Burnie, Md.-based vendor announced Wednesday that it will offer the service through the SSM Center for Sleep Disorders, part of major Catholic integrated delivery network SSM Health Care – St. Louis.
The seven SSM...
