Do Google own Fitbit?
As of January 2021, Yes, Google owns Fitbit, the popular wearables and health tracking company. In November 2020, Google announced that it was acquiring Fitbit for $2.1 billion. The acquisition was completed on July 30, 2021, after receiving regulatory approvals from various countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
How did it all start?
Google and Fitbit have a long history, dating back to 2007. At that time, Google was looking to expand its mobile advertising business and saw the potential in wearable technology. Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, saw an opportunity to create a platform that would track the user’s health and fitness, among other things. They acquired 19,000 employees from Google’s acquisition of Fitbit for $7.5 million, which was a fraction of the $2.1 billion price tag for the entire company today.
What does Google own in Fitbit?
The acquisition gave Google access to Fitbit’s vast pool of user data, which includes:
- Over 103 million registered users worldwide
- Over 44 million active users
- Data from 15 years of users’ Health and Fitness tracking
- Over 2,800 types of workouts and activities tracked
- Over 200 countries and regions covered
What will Google do with Fitbit?
Google has stated that it will continue to support Fitbit’s products and services, including its line of wearables, software, and companion apps. The company promises to maintain Fitbit’s focus on users’ health and fitness, while also exploring opportunities for integration with Google’s own services, such as Google Assistant and Google Cloud. Some of the potential benefits of the acquisition include:
• Improved product development: Google’s resources will enable Fitbit to accelerate product development, innovate in new areas, and create more advanced features, such as Google Assistant integration.
• Enhanced user experience: Google’s expertise in AI and machine learning will help improve the user experience, providing more personalized insights and recommendations.
• Increased scalability: The acquisition will allow Fitbit to access Google’s massive infrastructure, enabling it to scale more efficiently and reach a broader audience.
What about the data?
One of the biggest concerns surrounding the acquisition was the potential for Google to use Fitbit’s user data, which includes extensive health and fitness information, for its own purposes. To alleviate these concerns, Google has promised to:
• Respect existing policies: Google has committed to maintaining Fitbit’s current data handling and disclosure practices, ensuring that user data remains secure and private.
• Protect user data: Google has implemented various measures to protect user data, including using Google’s own encryption, secure servers, and other measures to prevent data breaches.
Conclusion
The acquisition of Fitbit by Google has significant implications for the wearables and health tracking industries. While some may be concerned about the potential for Google to use Fitbit’s user data, the company has committed to respecting existing data handling practices and protecting user privacy. As Google continues to support Fitbit’s products and services, users can expect to see improvements in product development, user experience, and scalability. Ultimately, the acquisition of Fitbit is a strategic move by Google to expand its presence in the health and fitness market, while also gaining access to a vast pool of user data.
Key Points:
- Google acquired Fitbit in 2021 for $2.1 billion
- Fitbit has over 103 million registered users worldwide and 44 million active users
- Google will maintain Fitbit’s focus on users’ health and fitness, while exploring opportunities for integration with Google services
- Google will respect existing data handling and disclosure practices
- Google will protect user data using encryption, secure servers, and other measures
- The acquisition has significant implications for the wearables and health tracking industries.