Jawbone said on Monday it is opening its software to other device-makers in hopes of accelerating sales of its activity-tracking wristbands, in a move that comes a day before Apple Inc is expected to unveil a smartwatch of its own. Jawbone said its software, called UP, can now incorporate health and fitness data from any gadget, whether it be an Apple iPhone, Fitbit, or Google Android Wear device. It will also pull in data from Apple's anticipated wearable device, dubbed the iWatch by the press. A Jawbone user who neglects to wear the band for a night, for instance, can pull sleep data from an iPhone or Android smartphone. Jawbone's UP can be used to track workout activity, sleep patterns, and food and drink consumption. Jawbone hopes to “lead people to the Jawbone hardware” by taking a more open approach, company spokesman Jim Godfrey said. He stressed that Jawbone was not planning to shutter its wearable hardware efforts, unlike Nike Inc, and hinted at sensor advancements in coming months.
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--- Reuters