As the wearables market emerges, hardware developers are increasingly opening up their platforms to software developers. Misfit, makers of the Shine fitness tracker, is the latest to publish a software development kit that it hopes will let its hardware interact with a universe of third-party software writers.
Misfit’s claiming a list of 30 partners who are using the SDK and accompanying API to integrate its feed, including RunKeeper, MapMyFitness and the automation service IFTTT. Also, Misfit users will be able to connect their devices with Walgreens’ popular Balance Rewards program, and the company points to Coca-Cola’s adoption of the Shine in its corporate wellness program. Other partners include Pebble (a deal that had been previously announced), LoseIt, and MyFitnessPal.
By opening its technology and data structures to the outside world, Misfit’s play is to broaden its audience and make its data accessible to the larger world — a realization that commercial success is more a matter of playing well with others in any environment, rather than forcing people to play only in a sandbox of its own making.