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Withings

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Withings
Company typePrivate
IndustryConsumer electronics
Founded(June 2008; 16 years ago (2008-06)) in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Founders
Headquarters2 rue Maurice Hartmann,
Issy-les-Moulineaux
,
France
Area served
Global
Key people
ProductsSmart devices including: Smartwatches, Scales, Blood pressure monitors, Thermometers, Health monitors, Companion apps
BrandsWithings
Websitewww.withings.com

Withings (pronounced "Wy-things" (en.) or "Wee-things" (fr.))[2] is a French consumer electronics company headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. It also has offices in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and Hong Kong, and distributes its products worldwide. Withings is known for design and innovation in connected devices, such as the first Wi-Fi scale on the market (introduced in 2009), an FDA-cleared blood pressure monitor, a smart sleep system, and a line of automatic activity tracking watches. It also provides B2B services for healthcare providers and researchers.

Withings was purchased by Finnish company Nokia on 26 April 2016[3][4] and became a division of Nokia known as Nokia Health. The Withings brand continued to be used until June 2017, when it was replaced by the Nokia brand. In May 2018, Éric Carreel, Withings' founder, finalized a deal to regain control and the company became independent again, under the Withings name.[5]

History

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Early history

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Withings was founded in 2008 by three executives from the technology and telecom industries: Éric Carreel (CEO), who was co-founder of Inventel; Cédric Hutchings; and Fred Potter.[6]

In September 2010, Withings received its first venture capital funding – $3.8 million from Ventech – to fund the development of the company's next two products.[7] In January 2011, Withings announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that its second product would be a blood pressure monitor that connects to the iPhone.[8] It also announced it would produce a baby monitor for use with smartphones and other connected devices, which was made available to purchase across Europe in November 2011 and in the United States in February 2012.[9]

Withings received a $30 million investment from Bpifrance, Idinvest Partners, 360 CapitalPartners, and Ventech in July 2013.[10] The company integrated with Apple's HealthKit platform in October 2014. The compatibility across Withings' range of connected devices enabled the integration of personal data into the iOS Health app.[11]

At WebSummit in Dublin, 2015, the company announced a partnership with MyFitnessPal.[12][13] The partnership combined Withings' Health Mate app with MyFitnessPal's nutrition data to let the users know whether they were exercising enough in relation to their diet.[14]

2016 to 2018; Acquisition by Nokia

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In April 2016, Nokia announced it had struck a deal to acquire Withings and integrate it with the group's Nokia Technologies division.[15] The acquisition closed on 31 May 2016.[16] The CEO of Withings, Cédric Hutchings, became the leader of the new Digital Health business of Nokia Technologies. At the time of the acquisition, the Withings brand was said to continue to exist, at least for the time being;[17] however, by the winter of 2016, the brand had already transitioned from the original "Withings Inspire Health" to "Withings Part of Nokia".

On February 26, 2017, it was announced that Withings would no longer be used as a brand: its devices would be sold under the Nokia brand.[18] The rebranding was completed on June 20, 2017.[19]

2018 to present; Purchase by Éric Carreel

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On May 2, 2018, Nokia announced plans to sell its health tech business to Withings co-founder Éric Carreel.[20] The sale was completed at the end of that month.[5][21] Carreel had left Nokia in 2017 and completed the purchase of Withings later in 2018.[22]

In April 2019, Withings relocated a factory in France.[23] The same year, it also released three new products including the Withings Move, a customizable smartwatch.[24]

Withings acquired both device company Impeto Medical as well as the personalized fitness and meal planning app 8fit in 2022. It incorporated technology for monitoring peripheral neuropathies into its smart scale products which was launched the same year.[25] In 2023, it presented U-Scan, a reader and replaceable cartridge for individual urine testing, set to be released in late 2024.[26]

Products

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Smart watches and fitness trackers

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Withings ScanWatch 2

Withings manufactures smart watches and fitness trackers, including the Activité, an activity tracking watch which was the first smartwatch to resemble a traditional wristwatch.[27][28] It has no buttons and is controlled from a phone app, compatible with both iPhone and Android. It can track the user's sleep, swimming, walking and running automatically. It also incorporates weight, heart rate, and body mass data from Withings' wireless scales, like the Smart Body Analyzer.[29]

The company also manufactures the Activité Steel which is made of stainless steel with chrome hands and a silicone strap.[12] Other models include the Activité Sapphire and the Activité Pop.[30] One of the users of Activité is former French president François Hollande.[31]

Withings' first product since being purchased by Carreel in 2019 is the Steel HR Sport smartwatch, a fitness tracker with the appearance of a watch.[32] It is a hybrid[33] and provides heart rate monitoring, GPS tracking, and fitness level analytics including oxygen intake sensors. It is the first Withings product to offer fitness level assessments. Withings also unveiled the Withings Move at CES 2019. This is an entry-level smartwatch[34] with an ECG version that has embedded electrocardiogram tracking.[35][36]

The ScanWatch is a smartwatch that incorporates a sensor that measures the oxygen saturation level in the blood to identify sleep apnea and detects atrial fibrillation. It also has a built-in ECG tool and monitors workouts and exercises.[37]

Scales

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In 2009, Withings released a WiFi Body Scale which was the first[38] connected body scale. It measures weight and fat mass and sends data to the user's app over Wi-Fi,[39] and also connects to platforms such as Google Health[40] and Microsoft HealthVault[41] as well as diet and exercise sites such as DailyBurn.[42]

In 2012, Withings announced an internet-connected baby and toddler scale at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. It was the first scale of its kind and won a CES Innovations Award.[43][44] It also produced the Withings Smart Body Analyzer, a smart scale that measures weight and calculates body mass index and fat mass.[45] The scales received media attention when magician Penn Jillette, having lost nearly 120 pounds in four months to preserve his health, attributed his success to a strict regimen and the Withings smart scale.[46][47]

Its Body Scan scale was launched in 2022, and it can perform an electrocardiogram and measure nervous activity. Body Scan launched in the United States in 2023 after it received FDA clearance. It also released the Body Comp and Body Smart scales that integrate with the Withings+ in-app service to provide advice and workouts based on body composition measurements.[48][49]

Health monitors

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Withings blood pressure monitor

In 2011, Withings released the first connected blood pressure monitor, which was upgraded in March 2014 to a wireless version to connect to iOS and Android mobile devices.[50] Approved by the FDA, the device allows patients to chart their blood pressure readings at home: it measures systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as heart rate.[51] The BPM Core, introduced in 2019, adds an ECG function and a digital stethoscope which listens for some heart valve defects.[52]

Withings BPM Connect (left) and Thermo (right)

Withings Thermo is a temporal artery thermometer which uses a 16-sensor array to deliver fast and accurate temperature readings.[53] The thermometer displays the temperature, storing data to be analyzed and presented in the accompanying app. Its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity allows smartphone users to log readings, along with other information such as symptoms and medication.[54] The device stores profiles of several people and its batteries last for about two years.[55] Thermo won two 2016 CES Innovation Awards (Best in Fitness, Sport and Biotech, and Tech for a Better World).[53]

In 2023, Withings released a urine testing system called U-Scan. The device is placed in a toilet and allows for daily urine tests, with results reported to the user electronically. It analyses diet and hydration as well as hormonal changes in women. The information collected can also be accessed by a person's healthcare professional, with the permission of the patient.[56]

Withings app

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Withings has a mobile application that connects with many of its devices and shows activity and sleep trends over time in graphs. The app also tracks weight, heart rate, blood pressure and more if the user enters the data or owns a Withings smart scale or blood pressure monitor.[57] It can be integrated with Apple Watch.[58]

Business-to-business products

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In 2019, Withings launched a line of business-to-business products known as Withings Health Solutions, for personal users and healthcare providers, that aims to track the wellness of patients to assist with chronic disease prevention, remote monitoring, and clinical research. Withings allows researchers and healthcare providers to use the Withings platform or their own platform to track the data which users allow to be collected.[59][dead link‍] Since 2023, Withings has allowed American Diabetes Association members to have free access to smart scale data and live coaching through its database.[60]

Former products

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Withings produced Aura, a smart alarm clock with sensors, which had sleep programs to help induce sleep, and had light and sound programs to gently wake the user.[61] A home monitoring system known as Withings Home[62] was discontinued in 2017.[63]

Research

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Withings Health Solutions is involved in connected health through a combination of in-house research and academic partnerships.[64] Using real-time data, it tracks the extent to which key risk factors for heart disease are linked to lifestyle, such as sedentary behavior, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure, and what steps can be taken to reduce risks.[65] Withings products have been involved in numerous clinical trials.[66]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brown, Aaron (12 January 2019). "8K TVs, 5G phones, smartwatches and headphones: this is the absolute best of CES 2019". www.t3.com.
  2. ^ Withings (29 June 2023). "Why-things, Wee-things... How do you pronounce Withings?". YouTube. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Nokia plans to acquire Withings to accelerate entry into Digital Health". Nokia. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Nokia completes the acquisition of Withings | Nokia". Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b Chris O'Brien (31 May 2018). "Withings cofounder Éric Carreel finalized deal to regain control from Nokia". VentureBeat. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  6. ^ "CP_Withings_Ventech_092010_EN.pdf" (PDF). Withings. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  7. ^ Roxanne Varza (2 September 2010). "Withings scores 3 million euros for the tweeting wifi scale and more". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. ^ Darren Murph (4 January 2011). "Withings fittingly debuts iPhone-connected blood pressure monitor at CES". Engadget. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. ^ Mark Baard (10 January 2011). "Baby monitor for iPhone provides pictures, too". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ^ Romain Dillet (17 July 2013). "Withings Raises $30 Million From Bpifrance And Others To Fuel International Growth". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  11. ^ Paul Lamkin (16 October 2014). "Withings gets on board with Apple HealthKit". Wareable. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  12. ^ a b James Stables (16 November 2015). "Withings Activité Steel is official: Big on style and low on price". Wareable. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  13. ^ Macala Wright (24 February 2016). "Withings Takes on the Silent Killer With a Wearable". PSFK. Retrieved 27 April 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Jon Fingas (11 October 2015). "Withings tracks your nutrition thanks to MyFitnessPal". Endgadget. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. ^ Jussi Rosendahl (26 April 2016). "Nokia to buy health tracking firm Withings". Reuters. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  16. ^ "It's official: Nokia owns Withings". CNET. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Withings Is Now Officially A Nokia Subsidiary | Android News". Androidheadlines.com. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Withings' wearables will adopt the Nokia name this summer". Engadget.com. 26 February 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  19. ^ Deahl, Dani (20 June 2017). "Nokia completes Withings rebranding with launch of two new digital health products". The Verge. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  20. ^ Vincent, James (2 May 2018). "Nokia is selling its digital health business back to the co-founder of Withings". The Verge. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  21. ^ Bembaron, Elsa (1 June 2018). "Comment Nokia a revendu Withings à son cofondateur Eric Carreel". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  22. ^ Olson, Parmy (8 June 2018). "Why Withings Founder Eric Carreel Bought His Company Back From Nokia". Forbes.
  23. ^ O'Brien, Chris (2 April 2019). "Withings' new factory lets customers choose 5,800 combinations of Move smartwatch". VentureBeat. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  24. ^ Porter, Jon (2 April 2019). "Withings' Move smartwatch can now be customized in its new French factory". The Verge.
  25. ^ Olsen, Emily (2 February 2022). "Withings buys workout, nutrition app 8fit to boost health insights". Mobile Health News.
  26. ^ Song, Victoria (3 January 2023). "Withings wants you to pee on its latest device". The Verge.
  27. ^ Pierce, David (26 December 2014). "Withings Activité review: a slightly smarter watch". The Verge. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  28. ^ Rhodes, Margaret (23 June 2014). "Withings Unveils a Slick Fitness Tracker Disguised as an Analog Watch". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  29. ^ David Pogue (29 January 2016). "Timex and Withings Watches Combine Fitness With Fashion — for Better and Worse". Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  30. ^ Paul Lamkin (20 January 2015). "Withings Activité Pop review". Wareable. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  31. ^ Guillaume Grallet (26 April 2016). "La pépite française des objets connectés Withings bientôt sous pavillon finlandais" (in French). Le Point. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  32. ^ Peckham, James (28 March 2019). "Withings Steel HR review". TechRadar. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  33. ^ "This smartwatch by Withings can measure your oxygen intake – EOTO Tech". EOTO Tech. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  34. ^ England, Rachel (4 February 2019). "Withings' entry-level Move smartwatch arrives with custom colors". Engadget. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  35. ^ Chokkattu, Julian (14 January 2019). "Withings Move ECG hands-on review". Digital Trends. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  36. ^ Wearables, James Peckham 2019-01-08T00:01:49Z. "Hands on: Hands on: Withings Move ECG review". TechRadar. Retrieved 29 July 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ Cipriani, Jason (4 September 2023). "The new Withings ScanWatch lineup offers robust health tracking — and a new cheaper model". CNN.
  38. ^ Chen, Jason (3 December 2009). "Withings Wi-Fi Scale Review (A Scale For the Year 2010)". Gizmodo. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  39. ^ James Stables (11 November 2015). "Withings boss: The secret of new health tracking devices is in the data". Wareable. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  40. ^ Rosa Golijan (28 January 2010). "Withings Wi-Fi Scale Gets Creepier With Google Health Integration". Gizmodo. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  41. ^ Chad Sapieha (8 August 2010). "Keep track of personal stats with WiFi bathroom scale". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  42. ^ Mark Suster (16 January 2010). "Digital Health Becoming a Reality". Both Sides. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  43. ^ David Eitelbach (10 January 2012). "Withings Announces Internet-Connected Baby Scale". Laptop Magazine. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  44. ^ "CES 2012: High-tech health gadgets revealed". CBS News. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  45. ^ Rachael Rettner (31 July 2014). "Withings Smart Body Analyzer Review". Live Science. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  46. ^ Dan Tynan (9 December 2015). "How Penn Jillette Used Technology to Lose 120 Pounds — No Magic Required". Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  47. ^ "Penn Jillette's Incredible Weight Loss Was Not a Magic Trick". The Dr. Oz Show. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  48. ^ Shanklin, Will (25 August 2023). "Withings gets FDA approval for its upcoming Body Scan Connected Health Station". engadget.
  49. ^ Dailey, Dennis (25 April 2023). "Withings Becomes National Sponsor of Project Power from the American Diabetes Association and Will Distribute Body Comp Smart Scale to Participants". Mobile Health Times. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  50. ^ Tom Fowler (8 May 2014). "Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor: Product Review". MedGadget. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  51. ^ Fatima Cody Stanford (7 May 2014). "Harvard-affiliated Obesity Physician gives in-depth review of Withings new FDA-approved Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor". Medtech Boston. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  52. ^ Song, Victoria (7 August 2019). "This Futuristic Blood Pressure Cuff Suggested All My Coworkers Are Dying". Gizmodo. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  53. ^ a b Simon Crisp (4 January 2016). "Withings Thermo thermometer boasts a 16-sensor array and Wi-Fi". Gizmag. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  54. ^ Liz Stinson (15 January 2016). "Withings' New Thermometer Might Be Worth Its $100 Price Tag". Wired. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  55. ^ "Withings Thermo Is A Thermometer That Doesn't Enter Your Body". Popular Science. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  56. ^ Mauran, Cecily (4 January 2023). "Pee and me: The gadget that turns toilets into urine labs". Mashable.
  57. ^ Aldrin Calimlim (9 May 2015). "Withings' Health Mate activity-tracking app is now fit and right for the Apple Watch". App Advice. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  58. ^ Russey, Cathy (31 October 2019). "Leading Connected Healthcare Firm Withings Launches B2B Solutions for Healthcare Professionals". Wearable Technology. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  59. ^ Iskowitz, Marc (25 April 2023). "Withings' B2B unit signs onto American Diabetes Association education push". MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  60. ^ Samuel Gibbs (25 April 2016). "How to use technology to sleep better". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  61. ^ Brent Dirks (10 March 2016). "The Withings Home camera adds a new layer of smart technology with IFTTT support". App Advice. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  62. ^ Wuerthele, Mike (19 April 2017). "Withings Home Plus HomeKit security cam cancelled, likely over Nokia-Apple patent spat". Apple Insider.
  63. ^ "Withings". Health Withings.
  64. ^ "Withings Health Institute". Withings.
  65. ^ "Resources". Withings. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
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