Jawbone’s UP4 fitness tracker wants to replace your debit card

Jawbone has announced a new fitness tracker called the UP4 that’ll let you make over-the-air payments in shops.

The UP4 follows on from the UP3 – due to launch on April 10 – offering exactly the same fitness tracking technology.

What’s particularly interesting about the UP4, however, is that it contains contactless payment technology.

Thanks to a partnership with American Express, you can use the UP4 to pay for goods via NFC at brick-and-mortar retail outlets.

Travis Bogard, Jawbone’s VP of product management and strategy, said: “We’re delighted to partner with American Express to launch UP4, our most advanced and stylish tracker that’s small enough to wear 24/7.”

To qualify for the payments, you’ll need to connect oan eligible American Express card using the iOS or Android UP app.

Once connected, you’ll be able to pay anywhere where American Express contactless payments are accepted.

Related: Jawbone UP24 review

“In partnership with Jawbone, a leader in advanced fitness trackers, we have created a seamless payment experience all in the tap of a wrist,” said Leslie Berland, an executive VP at American Express.

“We believe this unique technology will delight our active, digitally-savvy Card Members in a powerful way and drive a new type of engagement at hundreds of thousands of merchant locations nationwide.”

It’s not clear whether Jawbone plans to add most credit cards to its UP4 payment roster, or whether the device will come to the UK.

If you’re in the US, however, you’ll be able to buy a Jawbone UP4 for $199 (£130) this summer. That’s $20 (£13) more than the UP3, for contrast.