Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Just when I thought I had another excuse not to workout, my clients at PumpOne, one of the major leaders in digital training programs, has just announced their newest breakthrough. Come December, the will launch PumpOne Mobile, a digital personal trainer that can be viewed on virtually any mobile phone. Currently, their training programs are available on virtually any image-ready device (i.e: iPod, PSP, Treo), but with this new technology, they will take their programs from a potential 20 million [iPod] users and make them accessible to more than 200 million cell phone users nationwide. It is sure to be one of the biggest and most influential fitness programs in recent years.

I’m still learning the ins and outs, but the basic formula is this. Users will log on to the PumpOne Website, register for the workout(s) of their choice, and shortly there after they will receive a text message with a special link to the programs. From there, they will have access to the program(s).

The programs use the new WAP technology, which is how websites are written in (or dynamically converted to) WML, or Wireless Markup Language. This make is easy to send the workout tips and images to your mobile phone while simplifying the operation. Before the introduction of WAP, service provides were extremely limited in their opportunities to offer. It’s pretty cool, right?

To give you a little more info on WAP technology, the WAP browsers are designed to provide all of the basic services of a computer based web browser but simplified to operate within the restrictions of a mobile phone. WAP is now the protocol used for the majority of the world's mobile internet sites, known as WAP sites. The Japanese i-mode system is currently the only other major competing wireless data protocol.

Before the introduction of WAP service providers, we were extremely limited with opportunities to offer interactive data services. Interactive data applications are required to support now commonplace activities such as:

• email by mobile phone
• tracking of stock market prices
• sports results
• news headlines
• music downloads

To sum it all up, there is a lot of technology going into PumpOne Mobile. And while that interests me and the guys at PumpOne, all the consumer cares about is results. With PumpOne Mobile, the user gets step-by-step instructions/tips and color images of a full spectrum of workouts. It’s like having your trainer in the palm of your hand, so there are no excuses not to hit the gym and get into the best shape of your life. Oh, the joys of technology.