Roger Fingas
Samsung's next flagship phone, the Galaxy S8, could include a new S Health app with features above and beyond Apple's HealthKit and CareKit — including the ability to schedule online consultations with doctors, or even pay medical fees.
Video appointments with doctors should be available around the clock, SamMobile claimed on Monday. The option will reportedly stem from partnerships with companies like Amwell and WebMD, which should also let people hunt for information on symptoms, illnesses, and medications.
The patient-doctor focus is expected to extend down to appointment details, letting people save symptoms, photos, and prescriptions, and rate doctors as well as pay them. People could flag whether or not they have insurance.
More minor features may include the ability to find local pharmacies, or dial 911 without switching to the phone app.
While offering activity and biometrics tracking like Apple's Health app, S Health is intended to be even more comprehensive, letting people track nutrition and get fitness tips, to the extent of suggesting exercise programs like building up to a 5K run.
The rumored new features are most similar to CareKit, which Apple introduced for iOS devices just last year. Apple's platform, though, is aimed strictly at letting people track their treatment and share that information with physicians. Last week, the company announced a partnership with Tresorit to improve encryption.
While the S Health update is expected to debut alongside the Galaxy S8 — which could be announced at Mobile World Congress in late February — SamMobile suggested that the timing isn't certain.
Charles Martin
Oliver Haslam
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Sponsored Content
Malcolm Owen
27 Comments
Step 1: place phone in lead-lined box.
Not gonna work against Apple. I almost feel sorry for the few idiots who will share their medical data.
why's Sammy still running android?
Poor ole Samsung mobile. Never an original idea. Galaxy S8 to come with new ringtone called 'my cheating ways'.
Well, this is what competition is about. Every company tries to protect its core market, and move into another company's market. As long as they're not stealing code, or copyrighted material, it's fine. How well it does, is something we'll find out.
and I wish that some of you guys could keep these discussions to serious matters instead of the done to death Note 7 problems. That just gives this site a bad rep everywhere.