O2 today announces the launch of Healthy, a new mobile application from its O2 Health unit. Healthy was unveiled at Cancer Research UKs Shine London 2011, the charitys night-time walking marathon and has been developed by O2 Health as a fun and engaging way of encouraging people to live healthier lives through walking.

Healthy is a free mobile application designed to encourage people to walk more often and to make walking more sociable. Once opened, the app tracks the customers progress while walking and displays their walk on a map while also recording how far they have walked and how many calories have been burnt. By keeping a record of each walk the app shows the user how they are improving the more walks they do.

Healthy is also designed to make walking fun by rewarding progress made with badges to collect and a “Keep me Walking” button provides a fun and quirky way of motivating people to keep going with random jokes and facts about walking. Progress can also be shared with family and friends via Facebook directly from the App.

Keith Nurcombe, Managing Director of O2 Health said, “Healthy is the first consumer-focused product from O2 Health and represents our commitment to using technology to help people live healthy and more active lifestyles. It’s an important first step for O2 in the important wellbeing space and the start of many more exciting things to come.”

Healthy was unveiled at Cancer Research UKs Shine London on October 1^st. Shine is Cancer Research UKs half or full night time walking marathon, starting and finishing at The O2 in London and raising money for Cancer Research UKs life saving work.

Vicki Blake, Cancer Research UKs Shine event manager, said: “It is fantastic that O2 Health have launched this app at Shine London. Being physically active helps to reduce the risk of cancers of the bowel, breast and womb, as well as other serious diseases.”

“Walking more is a great way to increase your level of physical activity. One effective way of keeping motivated is by setting yourself a challenge. Signing up to a walking event such as Cancer Research UKs Shine event is a great way to keep focused.”

Walking has so many great health benefits. It is a really simple way to increase physical activity and can also help:

· Reduce cancer risk

· Cut risk of heart disease

· Increase cardiovascular fitness

· Improve bone density

· Boost metabolism

· Ease stress

· Lose weight or help to keep it off

Launched in 2010, O2 Health works with the NHS and other health organisations in the UK, using technology to improve care delivery and put people at the centre of their own care. As part of O2, O2 Health is dedicated to supporting communities and encouraging people to live healthy and more active lifestyles.

Healthy is now available to download for free to anyone with an iPhone, regardless of network, through the App store. O2 is also developing a version for Android devices.