TechCrunch50 Runner-up FitBit Tracks Activities with Wearable Sensor

TechCrunch awarded five jury selection prizes at the TechCrunch50 conference yesterday in addition to the top prize, which was awarded to Yammer. FitBit's discreet activity-tracking gadget, to go on sale this December exclusively on the company's Web site, earned the company one of the runner-up spots.

The device, which can be carried in a pocket or clipped to clothing, tracks calories burned and sleep cycles to help its users be healthier. Its main improvement over the Nike + Ipod sensor is its wireless capacity that automatically uploads data to the FitBit Web site. The Web site's detailed data includes a food budget, calories burned, steps taken, and daily trends, CEO James Park told me after he presented on Tuesday.

The device will cost $99 and earn the company its revenues, Park says. The Web site services will be free, but premium services will be introduced in the future to provide additional proceeds.

Here's our post about TechCrunch 50 winner Yammer.

--Kelsey Blodget, Associate Prdoucer