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Movano Will Take On Oura With Their Evie Smart Ring For Women
The device can measure heart rate, skin temperature variability, clinical SpO2, and much more.
Health-tech company Movano has just teased details of its first smart ring, named Evie. The device is designed for health and fitness tracking — including cycling — and bears a strong resemblance to Oura’s latest smart ring, as well as offerings from other companies. Movano plans to give the press and public a closer look at the device at next week’s CES 2023, claiming that the ring differs from other products, being uniquely developed for women.
Movano’s original design for the ring debuted at CES 2022 without a name, but the company has since changed several elements of the design, as well as the asking price. The new model will go on sale sometime in 2023, with a below-$300 price tag, and won’t be tied to a subscription.
The Movano Health Evie ring offers several of the metrics seen on rings like the Oura, as well as those found in Apple and Android smartwatches. The device can measure heart rate, skin temperature variability, blood oxygen, steps, calories, and sleep, with a special focus on period and ovulation tracking. Wearers of the new ring will be able to get advice from health experts within the app, and the device will meet medical manufacturing standards.
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“As a medical device, Evie will go beyond the status quo of other wearables on the market. We are bringing together medical-grade biometric data and insights in a comfortable and contemporary wearable,” says Movano CEO, John Mastrototaro.
As well as a broad suite of health data, Movano has promised high security and privacy standards when transferring data to the cloud or third-party health providers. Movano hasn’t yet achieved full FDA approval, which will probably dictate the final launch date. The Evie smart ring will be released in the USA at first, but should come to other markets later, though we’ll learn more about it next week at CES 2023.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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