Facebook acquires activity-tracking app Moves, will keep it separate and promises not to ‘commingle data’

Facebook has acquired Moves, the iPhone and Android app that tracks your everyday life and exercise. In a blog post, the Finnish startup said it will be working on Facebook’s own products and services, but refrained from giving any specifics.

If you’re a fan of Moves, fear not. The company said the health and fitness-tracking service will continue to exist as a standalone app. “There are no plans to change that or commingle data with Facebook,” it added.

Moves started out as an iPhone app that tracked walking, running, cycling and other movements. The team released an Android version in September last year, before adding support for over 60 new activity types in February.

Moves uses smartphone sensors to track your movement and therefore doesn’t require a fitness wearable such as the Nike+ FuelBand, Fitbit or Jawbone UP. Facebook has traditionally been a software company, so Moves’ cross-platform health app feels like a good fit. Regardless of what Apple does with its long-rumored smartwatch, or what manufacturers develop for Android Wear, Facebook can now support them with its own fitness-centric app.

Of course, there’s also the potential to deeply integrate Moves’ current offering with the rest of the Facebook platform, or develop any similar features the company might be building in-house.

The deal follows Facebook’s high-profile acquisitions of WhatsApp and virtual reality startup Oculus VR, which is currently developing the Oculus Rift.

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