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Progio Training Companion Gives You a Virtual Personal Trainer in Your Pocket
[May 08, 2007]

Progio Training Companion Gives You a Virtual Personal Trainer in Your Pocket


LOS ALTOS, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Question: What do you get when you combine a digital, virtual personal trainer with a wide variety of comprehensive, multimedia workouts, and wrap it up in a hand-held device you can take anywhere you exercise or train? Answer: A whole new way to work out, thanks to the new Progio Training Companion from Companion Worlds (www.companionworlds.com).



A stylish, all-in-one hand-held personal mobile fitness device, the Progio Training Companion gives users a virtual, digital personal trainer they can take with them to use at the gym, at home, while traveling or wherever they exercise or train. It provides users with comprehensive, interactive workouts complete with videos demonstrating proper form and cadence for each exercise on a color LCD display. Designed for action, the unit is rugged and sweat-proof, yet it's as easy to use as a digital music player.

"The Progio Training Companion works much like popular portable music players, such as iPods, for which users have a wide range of sources for content to put on the device," said Dirk Bartels, CEO, Companion Worlds. "It connects to the Internet, so users can access a number of Web sites to download a variety of sports and fitness exercise programs from leading trainers, coaches and fitness portals. One site configures workouts based on the user's personal profile; another one lets the user's personal trainer design customized workout programs. Whatever the content source, the workouts are automatically downloaded onto the Progio Training Companion. It's the next best thing to having a live trainer or coach with you when you work out."


Feature-rich and easy, one-hand operation

The Progio Training Companion combines modern workout tools, such as timers, heart-rate monitoring and workout logs with detailed, multimedia instructions about each exercise.

Two models are available. Both boast a 3.5-inch active TFT LCD display with QVGA resolution and include stereo headphones and a cable for connecting to the Internet through its USB port. They have a workout calendar, workout library, multimedia workout instructions and workout tracking. The second model includes a built-in Polar heart-rate receiver and transmitter chest strap.

Standard battery life for both models is four to six hours when in use and 12 days on stand-by.

The Progio Training Companion was specifically designed for one-hand operation. Its sleek form fits all hand sizes, and its unique, hook-like handle helps it to stay on an exerciser's hand. The hook also props up the device for easy viewing when it is set down. Convenient function keypad placement on the top of the unit and simple-to-navigate menus make it exceptionally easy to use.

A variety of content sources

Web sites and fitness portals where Progio Training Companion users can download sports and fitness exercise programs or fitness professionals can create workout programs for their clients to download include:

-- Fitness Anywhere, Inc. (www.fitnessanywhere.com) - Strength, core and sport-specific training programs utilizing the TRX Suspension Trainer, the complete bodyweight training station that sets up anywhere.

-- HyperStrike (www.hyperstrike.com) - Customized workouts created based on users' current levels of conditioning, exercise experience, fitness goals and personal data.

-- Personal Training on the Net (www.ptonthenet.net and www.ptntraineronline.com) - Personalized workout programs designed by fitness professionals specifically for clients who use the Progio Training Companion.

-- Progio (www.progio.com) - General fitness, weight loss and sports performance programs.

"Motivation, confidence and fun are important factors for maintaining an exercise regimen and achieving fitness goals," said Bartels. "Whether they want to lose weight, improve sports performance, start playing a new sport, prepare for a marathon or triathlon, focus on a particular body part or are going through rehabilitation, Progio Training Companion users will be able to find the perfect workouts for them. In addition, as their goals or objectives change, or as they need to add variety or fresh challenges to their workouts, they'll be able to continually add new programs to their Progio Training Companion."

Availability and pricing

The Progio Training Companion is available at www.progio.com. The model with 512 MB flash memory has an MSRP of $399; the one with 1 GB flash memory, Polar heart- rate monitoring and a chest strap has an MSRP of $499.

About Companion Worlds, Inc.

Companion Worlds enables instructional multimedia content, such as fitness and athletic performance programs, to be loaded onto mobile digital devices so consumers may use the content anytime, anywhere. The company's management team and its key employees bring together a unique blend of experience from consumer fitness products, athletics and exercise physiology, hardware, software, user interface design and consumer electronics. Founded in 2003, the company is headquartered in Los Altos, Calif.

Companion Worlds, Inc., 5150 El Camino Real, Suite A24, Los Altos, CA 94022, 650-691-0671, www.progio.com, www.companionworlds.com.

Progio is a registered trademark of Companion Worlds, Inc. All other products mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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