Chinese smartphone and gadget Xiaomihas already gotten into the wearables game, and it will soon be equipping runners for their workouts. The smartphone and gadget maker is developing a pair of smart running shoes in partnership with Li-Ning, a Chinese footwear company with clients including Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade.
Each pair of smart shoes will be equipped with a chip in the sole to record the athlete's activity, transmitting the data to a smartphone app, keeping track of their physical condition and progress. This technology is being developed in parallel with the company Huami Technology, as was done with the wearable Xiaomi Mi bands.
The design is still in development, so there's no word on pricing or availability, but according to Li-Ning, Chinese athletes can expect a very affordable price tag.
With a growing market in the US interested in fitness wearables, it remains to be seen whether Xiaomi's smart shoes will make it across the ocean. Li-Ning is already well-known to the American public, with several famous athletes as its customers. Of course, the competition will be tough with rivals such as the iPod sensor, which Apple has put in Nike since 2006, and Adidas' miCoach Speed Cell.
