On the heels of a PowerTap hub price drop, the company has unveiled a free Mobile Bluetooth iPhone app that works with any Bluetooth 4.0 device, including its new PowerCal heart rate unit (US$119) and speed/cadence sensor (US$60). You can buy both for US$169. UK pricing was not immediately available.
The app gives on-screen readouts of power, speed (through the phone’s GPS or a speed sensor), heart rate, time, and more, and is available from the iTunes store.
“What’s unique about our app is that you can upload your data directly to any site: Strava, TrainingPeaks, MapMyRide, Twitter, or Facebook,” said PowerTap manager Jesse Bartholomew. “It works with any Bluetooth-equipped device, be that a power meter, speed sensor, or heart rate monitor.”
PowerTap Mobile pairs with any Bluetooth 4.0 device
PowerTap is working on adding a Bluetooth hub cap for the ANT+ G3 power meter hub. Also new from the company are Zipp wheelsets with PowerTap hubs. With the G3 power meter hub, a pair of Zipp 303s is about US$350 more than a standard set of 303s, and 150g heavier. “We are starting to get into that range where the weight differences are almost negligible, and the pricing is very close,” Bartholomew said.
PowerTap recently began selling consumer–direct through its website. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that by selling direct we can offer some more aggressive pricing,” said Bartholomew. “But it’s a fine line. And we have a great relationship with our dealers that will continue. With our preferred dealer network, you can find shops that are guaranteed to have our full line of products in stock for demo.”
