Fossil’s latest smartwatch is set to integrate Cardiogram, an app that uses deep neural network technology to detect various heart conditions, preinstalled. The Cardiogram platform has been tested to detect sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension and atrial fibrillation. 

Typically, Cardiogram Care is included only in Cardiogram’s premium version, which costs $15 a month. However, the Cardiogram Care feature will come unlocked on Fossil watches, according to the startup . 

"For several years, the health and wellness industry has been converging with smartwatch technology — and Fossil knew there was a tremendous opportunity to provide a connected option for the design-conscious consumer looking to bring style to their wrist," Steve Evans, EVP of Fossil Group, said in a statement. 

In addition to the Cardiogram feature, the fifth-generation Fossil smartwatch will also include an extended battery life, voice calling, swim-proof speakers, increased storage and the heart rate tracking feature Cardiogram's platform will rely on. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Cardiogram is pitching its technology as way to help users detect a number of heart conditions. 

Heart conditions are the leading cause of death in the US. Atrial fibrillation impacts between 2.7 and 6.1 million people in the US, according to the CDC. Chances of the condition increase with age, impacting around 9 percent of people over the age of 65, according to the agency. 

THE LARGER TREND

When it comes to the wearable market, Cardiogram has quickly been announcing new integrations with consumer devices. Cardiogram’s first integration was with Apple Watches. Most recently, the startup announced that it inked a deal with Fitbit allowing its application to be integrated with the tech giant’s wearables. The technology is also integrated with Garmin wearables.

Cardiogram has also began to team up with the payer market to get the product to more customers. In April it announced that it has cut a deal with Oscar Health.

As part of the new agreement, Oscar Health members will be able to enter their insurance information and then download the Cardiogram app. While the Cardiogram app is free to download, Oscar members will be able to access Cardiogram Care within the app without a copay or deductible. 

“Major players in healthcare are starting to adopt wearables,” Brandon Ballinger, cofounder of Cardiogram, wrote in an email to MobiHealthNews. “Oscar Health Insurance announced a partnership with Cardiogram Care in April, Aetna launched their Apple Watch program in May, and United Healthcare's motion program now includes WearOS by Google, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, Apple Watch, and more. By pre-installing Cardiogram on its watches, Fossil can make the argument that their products are not just fashionable — they're powerful health monitors.”