Apple Computer and Nike on Tuesday announced a partnership that will see the launch of Nike+iPod products. Apple said that the partnership is meant to take what people do naturally — like running — and make it better.
“It matches naturally to a behavior that exists,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPod marketing, told Playlist . “We’ve enabled people to have a much better running experience than ever before.”
The two companies announced the partnership at an event in New York this morning. The first product of the partnership will be the Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a wireless system that allows Nike+ footwear to talk with your iPod nano. Using the Sport Kit, information on time, distance, calories burned and pace is stored on iPod and displayed on the screen; real-time audible feedback also is provided through headphones.
Joswiak explained that when the sensor in the shoe recognizes a step, it sends data to the iPod receiver, which then stores the data. The information can then be synced to your computer, so runners can keep track of their progress.
The kit includes an in-shoe sensor and a receiver that attaches to the iPod. A new Nike Sport Music section on the iTunes Music Store and a new nikeplus.com personal service site are also available.
“That’s what can happen when you own the whole solution,” said Joswiak, describing how Apple owns the iPod, the computer and the iTunes Music Store. “We make things simple.”
The fit of the two companies is also right according to Apple. “When you describe the Nike brand, some of the same things you would use also describe the Apple brand,” said Joswiak.
The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is expected to be available within 60 days for a suggested retail price of $29 through the Apple Store. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit requires a Nike+ shoe and an iPod nano.
Updated : Added information at 3:20 pm from an interview with Apple.