Facebook for Sweaty People

Suunto is a Finnish company that makes sports instruments--compasses, watches, altimeters, heart rate monitors, dive computers, etc.  In an effort to build community, Suunto created an interactive, global website called MovesCount.com.  Members can create an exercise program for any sporting activity, then count calories, track mileage or laps, and monitor progress.  Serious athletes can measure, track, and analyze VO2 max, peak training effect, excessive post-exercise oxygen consumption, and other advanced exercise factors.   Members can participate in groups or teams that are member-created, post high-fives in a shoutbox, and message other members of the community. 

MovesCount is open to all athletes, is customer based, and can be accessed on the Web or via a free IPhone app.  Suunto developed a new G.P.S.-based wristtop computer, the Ambit, which allowed users to download apps from MovesCount.  Instead of creating the apps themselves, Sunnto, following the Apple model, released the source code for the Ambit.  Expecting about 1,000 apps by a year’s end, Suunto was surprised that in six months, customers had created more than 7,000 apps.   Customer-created apps range from the serious—Percent of Cardiac Drift—to the whimsical, but popular, Beers Burned Off.  The apps were so popular that Suunto had to develop a new wristtop computer, the Ambit 2, with 400 times the memory of its predecessor. Although anyone can participate in the MovesCount community, Ambit apps are exclusive for Suunto Ambit owners only.  The creation of the Ambit 2 is an example of the power of community and consumer-driven free market. 

I’m at MovesCount.com, FAROCKAFELLA10.  Join me!