GOQii: Unlimited Personal Training $30 a Month

Let’s come right out with it: the GOQii (gó-kee) wearable is not going to blow your mind for design. It’s fine. It’s just nothing revolutionary; doesn’t need to be.

Don’t worry if you don’t how it looks, the device is free. The cost-slash-value of the GOQii is what comes ancillary with the device: low-cost personal training.

The newsworthy part about this is that annual price just dropped in India, its home country. Expectations are the USA will drop prices next. Still, the monthly is very low for training.

For your investment in GOQii you get the device, the companion app, and the personal training, but really what you get is the personal training.

The Wearable Device

(Source: businessinsider.com)

The GOQii, in case you haven’t heard about it, looks about like your average fitness tracker. For this reason, it’s easy to overlook. Guilty as charged.

Manufactured in India, the GOQii wristband enjoys a strong position in that market. It’s a thin wearable, compared to devices like the Polar M600.

The band of the device is watch-style. It has a touchscreen OLED display, Bluetooth 4.0, and 3-axis accelerometer. You can set up notifications for calls, email, SMS, coaching and custom alarms.

It will track your steps, active time, sleep and distance traveled. The device lasts 7-10 days on one charge.

Wear Your Own Device

(Source: wired.com)

You read that right. You don’t even have to wear GOQii’s device. Because the value of the purchase is the coaching, once you download the companion app to your iOS or Android operating system, you can sync with other devices and apps.

The list includes Jawbone, Fitbit, Misfit, Garmin, and Strava. Also, you can link with your favorite apps, Mapmyfitness, HealthKit, Google Fit, and much more.

If you are already married to your current device but just need some help, then wear what you want.

Cost Effective Training

(Source: goqii.com)

Assuming you pay $50 per session, a personal trainer will run you $600 per month if you connect three times per week. Double that number for independent trainers.

For $29, with GOQii, you get personal training 24/7, as much as you need.

Personal trainers balk at the idea they are replaceable, especially remotely, but the idea isn’t so far-fetched. In fact, many trainers these days work from the internets.

If your idea of personal training is someone to count your reps and hold your towel while listening to you complain about your co-workers, this won’t work for you.

As a former personal trainer, I can report that much of what trainers do for their clients is not worth what clients pay. I’ve made far greater progress with consultation versus what I used to do chasing clients on the gym floor.

(Source: chellascommoncents.com)

The irony of covering this device in a wearable tech category for Bodyhacks is not lost on this author. This marketing strategy is called a loss leader, like when companies sell gaming consoles at a loss because the games are where they make their profit.

What’s equally interesting about this scenario is that none of the US manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon. How long would it take for Fitbit to launch a similar service, pushing GQOii out of the picture?

Maybe they know something we don’t know. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, take a look at this video: