The release of Jawbone Up3 might have been delayed but Jawbone has already made an official announcement regarding its successor, the Jawbone Up4.
Jawbone Up4 was said to allow users to make NFC payments, and see recent transactions through American Express and Jawbone app. Along with the $199 Up4, Jawbone has also debuted their brand new Up2, which costs $99.
According to reports from Engadget, the Jawbone Up4 is basically an Up3 that is capable of making NFC payments, courtesy of Jawbone's partnership with American Express. It keeps the key features of its predecessor such as the built-in heart rate monitor and deeper sleep analytics.
Apple Pay may be available on the new Apple Watch, but Apple's new smart watch is not exclusively a fitness-tracking device. This will make the Jawbone Up4 the first wearable fitness device to feature NFC payment capabilities.
However, unlike Apple Pay, since there's no screen in the Jawbone Up4, users had to rely on store's payment terminal to verify that the transaction had been successful.
As reported by The Verge, Jawbone Up4 users would have to register to the the fitness tracker's app, as well as the American Express app for them to see recent transaction history and other account details.
American Express' Leslie Berland told the website that the split was meant to provide an additional protection to sensitive customer data.
In other news, the Jawbone Up2, which sits between the entry-level Up Move and the aforementioned Up3 in terms of pricing and features, is set to have the same features as the Jawbone Up24 that was released the previous year, with the first noticeable difference being its more sleek and stylish design.
The Jawbone Up2 is 45% smaller than the Up24 and is $30 cheaper. The Up2 also features vibrating notifications and Jawbone's smart alarm clock, which were not previously available on the Up24.
The Jawbone Up2 is now available in Jawbone's official store and from various retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.
It currently only comes in black, but more colors for the Up2 are on their way. The Up4 will be available for consumers sometime in the summer.
