Fitness apps are a dime a dozen these days, which is why Kumu’s rise to fame has been so notable. Apple picked the training service as the Best New App back in April, and Kumu has received recommendations from both men’s fitness sites and women’s running publications, an unusual feat in a market that is so often divided along gender lines.
So what makes Kumu so special? It connects you with a real, live personal coach ready to text you about your goals. According to the company, only a fraction of coaches who apply are hired to go live on the app, and they receive training in motivational interviewing to help encourage users. These Wellness Coaches can receive texts, photos, video chats and presumably unwanted confessions of love, then reply in kind to help people reach their goals and/or romantic disillusionment.
The system is all based on Goal Cards, which are daily goals designed to build up good habits over time. The Goal Cards can be set based on long-term goals, from getting super swole to completing a marathon at the head of the pack – or more reasonable goals for casual users, like losing weight. Other tools include Team Stream to connect with teammates or share goals, and High Fives that users can give out (shouting “bro!” not included).
For now, Kumu has a surprisingly small staff of only around 150 coaches, but presumably more growth is on the way. But then, Kumu’s strategy may be focused on controlled growth with high profit margins – after the first week, you have to pay $20 per month for the service, which definitely limits the potential consumer base. At this point, you may not be surprised to learn the service is based out of L.A.
If you want to try you hand at a personal coach app, you can sign up here. Kumu can pull data from several other services, including Apple Health, so if you use fitness trackers they can still prove useful.
The post Kumu Fitness App Virtually Links You with a Personal Trainer appeared first on Gadget Review.
More gadget review in www.38today.com.
