Apple has introduced a new Apple Watch Connected gym program that provides users with exclusive rewards at gyms that make use of the wearable device’s NFC payments and tap-to-connect capabilities.
To join the program, gyms are required to provide an exclusive incentive or reward for Apple Watch users and an app that provides them with a way to track their fitness, see classes and log in at their gym.
They must also accept Apple Pay, and — if they provide cardio equipment — it must be compatible with GymKit[1].
Launched in 2017, GymKit lets Apple Watch users pair and sync data with NFC-enabled gym equipment and then view their workout data in the Activity app on their Apple Watch or iPhone.
Makers of GymKit-compatible equipment include Octane Fitness[2], True Fitness[3] and Woodway[4].
As of June 2019, some 50,000 pieces of GymKit-enabled equipment[5] had been installed in 1,500 locations across 100 countries worldwide.
Membership of Apple Watch Connected is free of charge for gyms “so long as they meet Apple’s criteria,” CNBC reports[6].
“Launch partners are Basecamp Fitness, Orange Theory, YMCA and Crunch Fitness.
“Crunch will give you $3 to $4 in weekly credit if you meet certain goals, like working out a certain amount of time per month. The credits apply to the following month’s bill. You can hit those goals either by working out inside or outside of the gym.
“Orange Theory will offer gift cards to Apple and Nike for hitting certain goals. Basecamp Fitness will give you an Apple Watch Series 5 GPS model that you can pay off by participating in three classes a week for an
