Google Stopped Selling Its Fitbit Products In Almost 30 Countries

Fitbit is active in only 23 countries after leaving Mexico, South Africa, and all Latin American countries. "We communicated that we will stop selling Fitbit products in select countries in order to align our hardware portfolio to map closer to Pixel's regional availability," a Google spokesperson confirmed to Cord Cutters News via email. From the report: The move marks a phasing out of Fitbit products after the Big Tech company acquired wearable company in 2021. Last month, Fitbit said it would remove itself from Asian markets Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, along with European markets Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia. It's possible Google is removing Fitbit and Nest from the European markets because they don't have a Google Store support. If that changes, Fitbit products and Nest Aware subscriptions could return. New products like the Pixel Watch could also arrive for the first time. "We remain committed to our customers and have not made any changes that impact the existing Fitbit devices they already own. Existing Fitbit customers will continue to have access to the same customer support, warranties will still be honored, and products will continue to receive software and security updates," the Google spokesperson said.

Fitbit: Now Serving 23 Countries ... and Less

[Press2ToContinue]

Looks like Google's trying the 'If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em and then retreat 'em' strategy with Fitbit. Maybe they're just making room for the new 'Google Sitbit' - a wearable that tracks your screen time instead of steps. After all, why walk when you can Google?

Re:Fitbit: Now Serving 23 Countries ... and Less

[martin-boundary]

This is standard operating procedure for many large companies everywhere. They have too much money to spend and panic about diversification and the next disruptive industry, so they buy the leaders of the pack. The founders and employees are forced to work for them a few years and leave ASAP. Nobody left with vision, the industry and product range is stagnant, but the large company is happy because the disruptive threat has been eliminated or set back a generation. The only losers are the customers.

Re:Fitbit: Now Serving 23 Countries ... and Less

[WankerWeasel]

Google gained a TON of personal health data with the purchase, which was something it's been going after for years. That, with their partnership with 23andMe (their CEO is the wife of Google co-founder) allows them to build an even more complete profile of searchers and they can sell that data too.

Re:

[a7sharp9]

Well, Fitbit did this to Pebble, so what goes around comes around. Like Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz used to say, "I've no sympathy at all."

Google recommends you upgrade to an iWatch!

[Anonymous Coward]

Steve Jobs approved this message.

What was it Google said during the aquisition?

[thegarbz]

"we can help spur innovation in wearables and build products to benefit even more people around the world" https://tech.slashdot.org/stor... [slashdot.org]

"The wearables space is crowded, and we believe the combination of Google and Fitbit's hardware efforts will increase competition in the sector, benefiting consumers " https://yro.slashdot.org/story... [slashdot.org]

"many of the things you know and love about Fitbit will remain the same." https://tech.slashdot.org/stor... [slashdot.org]

Suspicious list

[nospam007]

Sounds like a list of countries where everybody has an IPhone and an Apple watch.

An Apple Watch user

[Pascal Sartoretti]

An Apple Watch user, I am disappointed. Apple needs more competition in order to keep enhancing the Apple Watch hardware and software.