Withings makes a $129 blood pressure monitor for Apple devices

(PhysOrg.com) -- If you were to open the App Store in iTunes and put in the world health you would find a wealth of apps ready and waiting to help you get healthy. Most of those apps feature advice or information. Another large group gives you the ability to track what you eat or how often you work out. Few of them come with an accessory.

Withings is an app maker best known for making an app that allows users to share their weight with the world. Now, they are doing the same thing with blood pressure. The app, which comes with its own plug in blood pressure cuff is going to retail for $129, which is significantly more expensive than a standard home blood pressure cuff and it runs on AAA batteries.

The machine, first shown off at CES, works with either an iPhone, an iPad, or an iPod touch, which provides a wide range of options for users who do not want to invest in a new cell phone or a tablet PC in order to use the app.

Once you get the system set up and take your first blood pressure it can be sent to services such as Google Health or Microsoft HealthVault, as well as to your friendly primary health physician.

The monitor begins shipping today, June 20th 2011, for the public and it can be ordered on the Withings site. Though, for the cost it may be worth simply buying a $30 cuff at the drug store and typing the results into a much less expensive app.

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