MIO's ALPHA Continuous Heart Rate Monitor Watch Awarded ISPO's "Product of the Year" at World's Leading Sporting Goods Trade Show

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MIO, maker of the world's first strapless heart rate monitor sport watch, announced today its MIO ALPHA wearable heart rate monitor was named "Product of the Year" in the Performance Category at ISPO MUNICH 2013 and ISPO BEIJING 2013, the world's leading sporting goods trade shows. A separate jury reviewed each product division segment, and considered the item's design, innovation, and function to properly analyze the entries and select the winners. MIO offered live demonstrations of the product during the ISPO MUNICH event February 3^rd to the 6^th and will be demonstrating the ALPHA at ISPO BEIJING on February 27^th through March 2^nd at booth B1.104.

"Earning such an accolade from ISPO further cements the ALPHA's status as the premier wearable heart rate monitor on the market today," said MIO CEO Liz Dickinson. "The annual ISPO show is the top sports goods tradeshow that brings together global brands in apparel, electronics and gear. The ALPHA stood out at ISPO as an industry-first innovation, a precisely accurate and simple to use heart rate monitor that helps athletes to train and workout at their peak."

The MIO ALPHA is the world's first continuous heart rate monitor sport watch that accurately records heart rate continuously without a chest strap. It performs even while the wearer engages in vigorous exercise at speeds of up to 12 MPH. Real-time data can be transmitted from the ALPHA into iPhone and Android apps so athletes can track their performance over time. The product's simple two-button interface enables users to quickly measure their workout efficiency, with most of the data analyses occurring on the user's smartphone or tablet.

"Philips advanced sensing technology overcomes the challenge previous similar attempts struggled to surmount-namely accurate real-time detection of heart rate despite interference from movement and perspiration," said Giuseppe Coppola, Senior Director Emerging Business and Strategic Partnerships at Philips Group Innovation. "We're glad to see the great results the close collaboration on the MIO ALPHA's development has brought."

Urs Weber, editor of the German edition of Runner's World magazine concurred, adding, "Many runners rely on heart rate measurements to control their training and stay on track. Yet, many are not very satisfied with chest-belts, as they might rub against the skin. The technological idea of the MIO ALPHA therefore delivers a long awaited solution that might be able to solve many runners' problems with conventional heart rate monitors."

Thanks to its many events and services, ISPO is considered the leading international sports business network. Every year, more than 2,000 international exhibitors present their latest products from the segments of Outdoor, Ski, Action und Performance Sports at ISPO MUNICH and ISPO BEIJING to over 80,000 visitors from more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.ispo.com.

To see the MIO ALPHA in action and learn more, visit www.alphaheartrate.com.

About MIO

MIO is a line of patented strapless heart rate monitor wristwatches and calorie management systems by Physical Enterprises Inc. that collect and record personalized biofeedback to make reaching weight-loss and fitness goals simple and comfortable. The first strapless heart rate monitor sports watch on the market, MIO provides accurate heart rate data without uncomfortable chest straps, a major engineering feat. The company's complete line of wellness, fitness and performance products are designed for anyone seeking a more active, healthy lifestyle, from beginner exercisers to dedicated athletes. For more information, visit www.mioglobal.com.

Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG Inc. and any use of such marks by Physical Enterprises Inc. or MIO is under license.

SOURCE MIO