Bitwalking app pays people to walk

PanARMENIAN.Net - If the promise of being able to fit into your latest pair of designer jeans isn't enough incentive to get you exercising, maybe bribery will do the trick.

A new app that pays people for doing nothing more than walking is in testing, giving users the chance to help the environment, keep fit, and make a bit of cash on the side, Digital Spy reports.

Bitwalking for smartphones pays users in a digital currency called BW$, which can be spent in an online store or exchanged for real cash.

The app is being heralded as a game changer in impoverished countries, where money-making opportunities are often scarce and walking is the primary means of getting around.

Although there is no official exchange rate for BW$, BBC News reports that an IT teacher in Malawi is making up to 26 BW$ per month off the app.

"It's a currency that can be earned by anyone regardless of who they are and where they live," said Bitwalking founder Franky Imbesi.

"For some it will be a free cup of coffee a week perhaps offered by local businesses to encourage people to explore their local shops. For others it could be a game changer, transforming their lives by enabling them to earn and trade in the same way with the rest of the world."

Taking 10,000 steps will earn you 1 BW$ once you've downloaded the app, trial invites for which can be requested via the Bitwalking website.