Vamonos! Runkeeper adds support for new languages in global sprint

Runkeeper, one of the more popular fitness tracking apps, has already found its way on to millions of smartphones overseas. But the company is making an even bigger international push by adding support for 6 new languages.

Already two-thirds of its 17 million users are in more than 200 countries outside the U.S., the company told me Wednesday. But Runkeeper believes that there are many others who would use the app if not for the language barrier.

To date, the company has offered the app in English only, but added Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Japanese. As of today, the changes are live for Android users and the iPhone version is comings soon, Runkeeper said.

Given rising competition among fitness tracking apps and devices — and the foothold the company already has overseas — it’s not surprising that Runkeeper wants to ramp up international outreach.

Runkeeper, which launched in 2008, has a strong user base. But Nike, for example, has said that its Nike+ community (encompassing its app and devices) includes 11 million people and MapMyFitness, another fitness tracking company, said it crossed the 10 million member mark last summer. Nike supports other languages on its app, but it appears that MapMyFitness does not (although I’ve reached out to the company to confirm).

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