Supporting Expo and a Healthier Shanghai
SHANGHAI, March 31 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- With one month left before the 2010 Shanghai Expo, ECCO shoes and Touchmedia have launched an electronic pedometer that can be downloaded for free to mobile phones and counts the number of steps you take and the calories you burn in your daily life. George Kahwati, GM of ECCO China explained, "We are making the pedometer free to download to your mobile phones as we hope it will encourage people to walk more, and contribute to a healthier lifestyle fitting to the 'Better City, Better Life' Expo theme."
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2010/03/31/20100331145815.jpg )
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200905131115.jpg )
Founded in Denmark in 1963, ECCO is a global leader in innovative comfort footwear for men, ladies and kids. It has over 450 stores in more than 163 cities across China for more than a decade. Touchmedia is the largest in-taxi interactive media company and has supported the Expo program with a series of initiatives over the last 2 years.
The pedometer will be available to download for free to smart mobile phones and promoted on the Touchmedia in-taxi interactive advertising system. It allows consumers to choose their gender and then measure how many steps they take as part of their normal daily life. "Experts say that 10,000 steps a day is the equivalent of 1,000 calories, and it is surprising how quickly it can mount up. Making people a little more conscious so that they will be more apt to take the stairs or walk to the train station really helps, and the pedometer not only allows you to keep track, but makes it fun as you can compete with yourself," explained ECCO Senior Marketing Manager, Mellisa Lim. "ECCO always promotes the low-carbon environmental philosophy and encourages people to have a positive attitude towards life, hence ECCO will also offer a series of shoe vouchers and prizes for individuals who are ready to make the biggest change in their lifestyle."
The ECCO pedometer and its benefits are being promoted by Touchmedia in their taxis. "You can get an idea of the difference it will make by testing it on our screen," said Micky Fung, CEO and Founder of Touchmedia. "Right on the touchscreens in taxis, you can 'experience' one day in your life by interacting with the ECCO icon."
Apart from gender, the pedometer makes allowances for differences in height, weight and age. It can be downloaded onto cell phones. Miss Meng Yao Wang, a 27-year-old office employee working in Luwan District, had a test trial. "I found that I walk almost 8,000 steps on average everyday and burn 800 calories. I feel encouraged as I want to get fit and slim. I'm telling all my friends to try it."
Dr. Ying Liu Ko from Traditional Chinese Medicine Section of Shanghai united Family Hospital said, "As a whole body movement, walking improves the body's metabolic activity, muscular fitness and blood flow, thereby is conducive to both physical and mental health."
The ECCO pedometer is applicable for the main mobile phones brands such as NOKIA and Sony Ericsson, which are based on the Symbian operating system. Other systems may be incorporated later. Touchmedia is developing a number of other downloadable services and believes they will be welcomed by both residents and the many Expo visitors. Micky Fung, Touchmedia's CEO concluded, "As a home-grown Chinese company, we feel committed to the development of advanced technology in a way that contributes back to society."
About ECCO
Founded in 1963 by Mr. Karl Toosbuy a shoemaker in Denmark, ECCO has become one of the largest footwear brands in the world, headquartered in Denmark, with tanneries, shoe productions and sales organizations all over the world. ECCO is one of very few large shoe companies, from tanning of leathers, shoe production, to wholesale and retail.
ECCO entered the Chinese market in 1997 and by 2010, ECCO has opened has over 450 stores in more than 163 cities across China.
ECCO is a leading company with innovative and high technology footwear production, a brand well known all around the world for its impeccable craftsmanship, unparalleled COMFORT and fashionable styles.
About Touchmedia
Touchmedia was founded in 2003, by its CEO, Micky Fung, to develop state-of-the-art touchscreen media technology in China. It is the largest in-taxi interactive media company, delivering innovative digital media solutions for clients and the out-of-home advertising industry in China, at a time when reaching affluent consumers on traditional media is increasingly challenging.
