Microsoft Band is launching a SOCIAL CHALLENGES AND LEADERBOARDS

Microsoft today announced a new feature for the Microsoft Band. The company today introduced new Social Challenges and Leaderboards for the Microsoft Band. If you are a Facebook user, you will be able to compete with your Facebook friends, and challenge each others. With the Microsoft Health app, users can create challenges for steps, calories burned, longest run, bike ride between them and their friends, etc. Additionally, users can choose to challenge each other for one, three, five or seven days, which is a nice feature.

In addition to this, Microsoft is also introducing a feature which allows users to notify their friends when they skip workouts:

With this new feature, invite a group of friends to partake in the fun. When you’re particularly proud of an awesome workout or a great night’s sleep, remember that you can share your run, bike, or sleep summaries on social media. Friends can review your data in the public dashboard if you choose.

These new features will be rolled out with a new update for the Microsoft Health app, which is available for Windows Phone, iOS and Android.

SET FITNESS CHALLENGES AND COMPETE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

 

The goal of Microsoft Band’s new features is to digitize the concept of working out in groups, which research shows can have health benefits. Microsoft isn’t alone in trying to make fitness more social. The app inKin, for instance, allows you and your friends to compare performances across multiple devices like Fitbit, Up by Jawbone, as well as Microsoft Band.

The new social component added by Microsoft is solely for Band users. However, you can also compete with others through the Microsoft Health app on an iOS, Android, or Windows phone.