Google Enters Wearable Device Market, Buys Fitbit

Today, Google announced it would acquire Fitbit, a fitness tracker brand valued at $2.1 billion.

Fitbit was founded in 2007. Today, the company announced it will become a part of Google. Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior VP of devices and services, announced the news on behalf of the company.

“Google aspires to create tools that help people enhance their health and happiness. This goal is closely aligned with Fitbit’s longtime focus on wellness and helping people live healthier, more active lives,” he wrote.

The acquisition makes a lot of sense for both Google and Fitbit. Five years ago, Google tried to enter the wearable device space with its Wear OS and Google Fit, with limited success. “We see an opportunity to invest even more in Wear OS, as well as introduce Made by Google wearable devices into the market [by working closely with Fitbit],” wrote Osterloh in the release.

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The wearable device market is growing fast as products like fitness trackers incorporate more tech and data into our lives. Specifically, Fitbit’s devices can measure data such as steps walked, stairs climbed, heart rate, sleep quality, and other fitness and health metrics.

“With Google’s resources and global platform, Fitbit will be able to accelerate innovation in the wearables category, scale faster, and make health even more accessible to everyone,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit.

Fitbit Data and Privacy

In Google’s press release, it addresses the issue of collecting data on future Fitbit users. “We will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move, or delete their data,” the press release reads.

Fitbit’s own news release also addresses this concern, stating, “Consumer trust is paramount to Fitbit. Strong privacy and security guidelines have been part of Fitbit’s DNA since day one, and this will not change. Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.”

It will be exciting to watch how the two companies collaborate on wearable products. The deal will finalize in 2020.