Polar officially (finally!) announced heart rate monitor support for iPod users through Nike+ software and accessories. I’ve been hearing rumors about this for the past year but got the official word last Sunday via @ChrisPolarUSA on Twitter.

A look over the WearLink for Nike+ spec sheet and pricing details reveals versatility and value. With a MSRP of $69.95, you’ll get a heart rate transmitter for your iPod Nike+ set-ups that’s compatible with existing Polar hardware using familiar coded 5 kHz transmissions.

No word yet on what impact, if any, this might have on Sports Tracking Technology’s popular Sports Tracker app. Many a Sports Tracker fan knows their app was the first to officially partner with Polar Electronics using a nearly identical Polar WearLink transmitter back in January 2009. It was an extremely limited offering in three international markets that sent unlucky but ardent Sports Tracker fans into an eternal holding pattern which remains in effect for Nokia owners.

Having been one of the lucky few to get my hands on one, I can say the WearLink transmitter performed like any Polar product I’ve owned and gave me good feedback for over 200 runs over the past year. The Polar for Nokia product, as it was called, differs from the latest WearLink for Nike+ in that its transmission signal is limited to the Sports Tracker app on Nokia handsets. Other than that, the two have seemingly identical spec sheets.

The only disappointing feature carried over is the Polar WearLink’s use of Lithium “coin” batteries. Perhaps Polar re-engineered the product for better power efficiency, I don’t know. The Polar for Nokia WearLink gave me less than three week use between changing batteries. On an added note, the actual process of changing those batteries was not so easy; The battery was difficult to remove once the door was removed.

Nevertheless, this Polar/Nike+ offering will allow millions of iPod users to economically rediscover, or rededicate to, their fitness routines like never before within their handsets using heart rate data.

Have a look at Polar’s site for more information.

*EDIT* This post originally stated iPhone support which is incorrect. See the link above for all current supported hardware. Thanks.*EDIT*