Microsoft reveals fitness band, helth service and app

Microsoft has officially unveiled a new fitness smartwatch and Health service after accidentally leaking it through smartphone app stores hours earlier.

The new Microsoft Band, now available for $199 exclusively  through the Microsoft Store, was announced by the company Oct. 29, as was the health platform. It heads into a marketplace filled with competitors such as Sony, Samsung, Fitbit and others.

Microsoft Health is a cloud-based platform that can connect to and store information from Microsoft's new app -- also called Microsoft Health -- as well as other health and fitness apps, such as Jawbone, Gold's Gym, Runkeeper and MyFitnessPal.

The Microsoft Health app also can connect to Microsoft HealthVault, which collects data from other trackers such as blood glucose monitors and electronic scales.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Band will work with the Microsoft Health system to consolidate health and fitness data from various apps and tools.

In addition to displaying previews of incoming emails and other alerts, the Microsoft Band will contain 10 tracking sensors to measure things such as:

• Distance traveled
• Heart rate
• Sleep
• UV light levels