Fitbit and its Sense and Sense 2 watches have been owned by Google for two years, which just launched its own connected watch. What is in question about the future of the American brand bought 2.1 billion dollars.
Through a particularly sibylline email this week, Fitbit watch and band users learned that starting April 1st (and I’m not kidding) the Deezer and Pandora apps would be removed from the watch. “This means you can no longer download Pandora stations or add Deezer playlists to your device or listen to previously downloaded content,” says Fitbit.
Closure of Fitbit subsidiaries in France, Sweden or Germany
Even if music isn’t the main feature of the Sense and Sense 2 watches, which primarily focus on sports, health and well-being, this announcement is enough to keep the future of the American brand acquired by Google a little more vague on January 15, 2021 for more than $2 billion. Especially since this email comes a few days after the publication of an article by our colleagues from Informed announcing the closure of Fitbit’s subsidiaries in France, Sweden or Germany. Your own communication is also finished, everything has been internalized in the Mountain View giant.
Fitbit has yet to say its last word
Enough food for thought for all those who believe that Google’s acquisition had no other goal than to get their hands on the brand’s know-how to develop their Pixel Watch. A smartwatch that, according to the research agency Canalys, sold 4 million copies (by the way) in the last quarter of 2022, which puts Google in second place in the list of consignors of connected bracelets, just behind Apple.
But Fitbit hasn’t said its final word yet. The application will be improved using Google technologies to “develop new features and reduce loading times”. It also announced that certain features of the “Premium” subscription (data history) would become free. A good omen?