Is Fitbit in bother?
9to5Google found that Fitbit.comthe official web site of the favored wearable health tracker model, will not be on this world for lengthy. There is a new message on the prime of the web page stating that the positioning’s options will likely be shifting to the Google Retailer on October 1st.
This occurred solely about six months after Google has up to date the web site branding ought to now learn “Google Fitbit” as an alternative of “Fitbit by Google”.
We’re already seeing value reductions on choose Fitbit fashions forward of Prime Day in October
Is FitBit at risk?
In July, Google shut down Fitbit’s widespread internet interface for viewing well being information, forcing customers to make use of a cellular app that – a minimum of on the time – did not have as many options as the net interface.
Mashable Pace of Mild
Mid-August Engadget claimed that Google is downgrading the Fitbit model to concentrate on minimalist health trackers with lengthy battery life as an alternative of high-end smartwatches with quite a few options. A number of days later TechRadar claimed that Google had “tacitly confirmed” that it might discontinue manufacturing of the FitBit Versa and Sense fashions.
In an announcement to Ars-TechnicaGoogle claimed TechRadar’s reporting was “inaccurate,” including:
“We’re deeply dedicated to Fitbit and, extra importantly, to the purchasers who use and depend on these merchandise and applied sciences. It is also price noting that most of the well being and health options we launched in Pixel Watch 3 are a results of Fitbit’s improvements and breakthroughs. Moreover, we simply launched Fitbit Ace LTE and you will proceed to see new merchandise and improvements from Fitbit.”
Primarily based on these stories, plainly Google is prioritizing the Pixel Watch sequence because it step by step strikes away from Fitbit “smartwatches” and as an alternative focuses on easier Fitbit health trackers. Fitbit.com will in all probability be discontinued as a result of it might be redundant; Google can merely promote Fitbit wearables via the Google Retailer.
Google purchased Fitbit for $2.1 billion in 2019 and has stopped making new Fitbit watches since 2022. In the event you go to the Fitbit product web page within the Google Retailer, the Pixel Watch 3 (which works with the Fitbit Premium subscription service) takes priority over the precise Fitbit fashions.
That is hypothesis, nevertheless it appears just like the transfer right here is aimed toward encouraging Fitbit customers to purchase Pixel watches as an alternative. That is Google’s prerogative, however long-time Fitbit customers have each proper to be sad about it, too.