Vicks launches smartphone-connected thermometer
Vicks has launched a smartphone-connected thermometer called Vicks SmartTemp. The device will track a user’s temperature and send this data via Bluetooth to a companion iOS or Android device. The app allows families to create individualized profiles for each person, which will display the user’s temperature history. Users can also manually add symptoms, medications, and other notes to the app. Vicks’ app also offers a feature called Fever InSight guidance that turns the screen different colors, green, yellow, and red, depending on the reading. The thermometer is available for purchase online and at major pharmacy and baby retailers for $24.99. Unlike its two most popular rivals, by Kinsa and Raiing, the SmartTemp is not FDA-cleared.

Vicks, subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, which offers cough medicine and cold relief products, has announced that it will start selling a smartphone-connected thermometer.

The thermometer, called Vicks SmartTemp, tracks a user's temperature and sends this data via Bluetooth to a companion iOS or Android device. Vicks' thermometer has a flexible tip so it can be used for oral, under arm, or rectal readings.

The app allows families to create individualized profiles for each person, which will display the user's temperature history. Users can also manually add symptoms, medications, and other notes to the app. Vicks' app also offers a feature called Fever InSight guidance that turns the screen different colors, green, yellow, and red, depending on the reading. These colors indicate no fever, moderate fever, or high fever respectively.

"As a result of our team's extensive research, we know Moms value accuracy and ease of use when shopping for a thermometer," Lara Peterson, VP of Healthcare at Kaz, Vicks' parent company, said in a statement. "We understand the challenges parents face trying to accurately remember their children's fever histories. We've combined the flexible features we know Mom loves from our market-leading digital sticks with the convenience of wireless automated temperature history tracking via our free companion app. Finally Mom has all the accurate information she needs right at hand for a smarter doctor's visit."

The thermometer is available for purchase online and at major pharmacy and baby retailers for $24.99.

Two of the most popular smarthone-connected thermometer brands in the market at the moment include Kinsa and Raiing.

While the form factor of Kinsa's device looks similar to that of the Vicks thermometer, a Kinsa spokesperson pointed to two main differences. Kinsa's app provides users with guidance based on their symptoms and also allows users to join community groups, for example school and workplace, to help alert others to sickness in their area, while the Vicks thermometer does not.

Of course, another difference between the two is that Kinsa's thermometer is FDA-cleared, while the Vicks device does not appear to be. Raiing's device, also FDA-cleared, is a different form factor: The device is worn on the body to continuously monitor the user's temperature.