What do Telstra and Super Mario have in common?
They're both going to play a part in keeping you healthy.
With big data and new trends in e-health, patients and everyday people will have more ways to monitor and check up on their health than ever before. Part of the wearable tech movement just starting now is in providing an up-to-the-minute assessment of how fit, active and healthy we are. For example you can now buy the Apple Watch and Fitbit health bands as part of this trend.
This can be great for developing new business and income streams and at least two companies are moving in that direction.
— Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), the telecom giant, wants to take advantage of big data movement and storage in developing cloud based business enterprise services. Data storage can also be used for "e-health"- using mobile devices and monitoring instruments to help patients and doctors communicate and stay in touch without meeting.
Doctors can have up-to-date medical data for patients and analyse progress in real time. Telstra is targeting its e-health business division Telstra Health to be one of its top revenue generators in five years, like its Network Application and Services (NAS) division, which had revenue of $1.9 billion.
Recently, Telstra's overseas expansion in Asia has grabbed a lot of the attention, but there are still ways that its broadband and telecom expertise can create new business in Australia. This is another reason why long-term investors may want to own a piece of this growth in their portfolios. The stock has a rock steady 5.3% fully franked yield.
The healthcare stock, ResMed Inc. (CHESS) (ASX: RMD) is teaming up with an unlikely partner – Nintendo – to make devices that help people sleep better. ResMed's specialty is in respiratory devices and breathing aids for people with sleeping disorders like sleep apnea.
Nintendo has created a new health division, which is putting its gaming and software design expertise to work with ResMed to analyse people's sleep habits and wellness. ResMed wants to expand the devices it can sell to a wider consumer market. For example, its new S+ wireless sleep monitoring device is the latest step in making contactless products that people can easily and routinely use.
Together with Nintendo, the two are developing a new product that is expected to be out on the market by early 2016. Already ResMed is growing earnings at a good rate and the stock is near all-time highs. This kind of e-heallth development could widen ResMed's brand recognition and drive future profits. With a 2.0% dividend yield, it could be a good defensive stock in your portfolio.
