Apple to Cease Selling Fitbit Activity Tracking Devices in Stores

[Garsun]

Dumb move. This will only accelerate their disruption and ultimate demise.

This would only be a disruption if Apple remove the fitbit app from the app store. As it is, this should not affect fitbit sales in the least.

That said, it would be fun to speculate what would happen if Apple did remove the fitbit app from the App Store.
Would android sales go up because current and future fitbit users could no longer use iOS?
Would fitbit sales plummet because it no longer work in the iOS ecosystem?

Won't happen, but would be fun to watch if it did.

 

[tcm1975]

Two Different Products

Can't be the only one who sees these as two really different products from price points, to features to battery times. Guess my hope is they'll stop selling the Fitbit and then role out their own Apple version next year. I get the appeal of the Watch but for me just doesn't seem like a device you'll want to sweat in, run in and most importantly can't wear 24/7.

 

[Solomani]

Agreed that even though my argument for lack of health kit integration sounds valid, I think you are right that the real reason is simply the Apple Watch.

True true. When 2015 comes…. the Apple Stores will need to find the retail shelf space to put all those Apple Watch bands and straps and other accessories. As well as where to place all the new upcoming HealthKit products.

 

[budselectjr]

If the costs to add Health Kit support are less than whatever amount of sales they make in Apple Stores and they still won't then that company is not run well.

 

[samcraig]

If the costs to add Health Kit support are less than whatever amount of sales they make in Apple Stores and they still won't then that company is not run well.

I don't agree. Just because you don't follow another company's roadmap to the letter doesn't mean your company isn't run well.

 

[nutmac]

I have Fitbit One and Fitbit Flex.

Fitbit produces very generic, low quality products. Health data accuracy is often questionable, hardware design and usability are subpar at best (horrible wristband, poor interactivity), and iOS app often takes a long time to sync.

So far, Fitbit masked these deficiencies with slick packaging, until-now a prime spot at Apple Store and many other places, and excellent customer service.

Now their efforts are waning with backlash from many iOS users (see TUAW's Dear Fitbit: technology is designed to make our lives easier article), users realizing how poorly their hardware are designed, inability to launch new products (see Fitbit Force), and the rise of smart watches.

From what I can see, Fitbit's only exit strategy is being acquired by a watch maker or other consumer electronic giant.

 

[winston1236]

Dumb move. This will only accelerate their disruption and ultimate demise.

Yea right. People don't want a jumbo watch to exercise with.

 

[Solomani]

If the costs to add Health Kit support are less than whatever amount of sales they make in Apple Stores and they still won't then that company is not run well.

It's not just actual sales from the Apple Stores. To you it's simply that. It's not.

Do you realize that Apple Retail Stores are the MOST profitable retail space in terms of square foot? It's also the most trafficked, in terms of customers visiting daily, by square footage. Hence, it's also about the advertising!

Customers that see 3rd-party products on Apple Stores might not buy them right away. But when they see those products, they realize that the product exists! Yup, that's the power of advertising. And later on, they might shop online at Amazon or eBay and then try to purchase the same product that they saw at the Apple Store the other day.

 

[samcraig]

Yea right. People don't want a jumbo watch to exercise with.

It's not a jumbo watch - it's counterweight

 

[Eduardo1971]

Considering the Apple stores were designed to "benefit from having few products" (according to Jobs by Walter Isaacson) it will be interesting to see how they show off all the versions of the Apple Watch....

I think that Apple might have a limited number of watches on display in their own store and have a feeling they will partner with higher-end stores to also showcase the Apple Watch.

 

[Edsel]

Removing competitive products from their store makes sense.

It appears Apple, Inc. is exploring all sorts of new product frontiers. Wristwatches, designer iPud finishes, Beets headware, and soon Apple fashions, more jewelry and maybe partnering with an automobile manufacturer? The world could use a special edition iBuick "Apple" with a gold vinyl roof emblazoned with the Apple logo.

 

[dugbug]

as a fitbit customer Im a bit miffed at the healthkit thing. For the life of me I don't know why they aren't onboard.

 

[scottjl]

Fitbit did not say that they would never support Healthkit. Here's a quote from one of their employees on the Fitbit forum:

"We do not currently have plans to integrate with HealthKit… It is an interesting new platform and we will watch as it matures, looking for opportunities to improve the Fitbit experience."

I think this is a perfectly reasonable attitude. Healthkit was rushed and is still very buggy (just read the release notes of the latest Withings Health Mate update). Apple has also not communicated its plans for it well, and right now I can't see any benefits of using it (which will hopefully change in the future).

Anyway, I don't think not being sold in Apple stores will have a big impact on Fitbit. You can still buy their stuff everywhere, even at places like Walmart.

Fitbit was demoed on stage by Apple when they announced Healthkit, so they were on board back in June. They apparently dropped the plans, no reason Apple should continue to support them over someone else who does support Healthkit.

 

[Rogifan]

if Watch is just the beginning of Apple getting into wearables and if Apple gets into first party HomeKit hardware (there were rumors to that effect) I can see Apple stores selling fewer and fewer third party devices (outside of iPad and iPhone cases).

 

[greytmom]

Posted this a little while ago in another thread:

For those wondering about Fitbit ever integrating with Healthkit, some interesting news. They are getting ready to release their new tracker, and they sent out a firmware update. I have the Force, and I downloaded the firmware, and then I got the following email:

Hello,

We hope you had an awesome and active weekend! We noticed that sometime on Friday, you gained access to a firmware version that wasn’t meant to be public with features that aren’t necessarily final.

Please let us know of any specific issues you’ve experienced and we’ll be happy to provide further assistance.

Thanks,
The Fitbit Team

Long story short, I haven't had any problems, but what I have noticed is that I am now receiving call notifications on my Force. Not texts, unfortunately, but the call thing is pretty cool.

Here's the info about the new tracker.

 

[Reason077]

Why on earth does Fitbit not want to support HealthKit? Obviously there's some overlap between the functions of the Fitbit and the Apple Watch, but they're hardly direct competitors. Seems like a dumb move.

 

[bookcase]

I'm glad they're dumping Fitbit. I plan on abandoning my Fitbit One as soon as something better comes along because of their decision not to support Health Kit. It's a big FU to their customers.

 

[Rz1138]

Intel Basis Peak

Oh wow, I missed that bit at first. I had just been thinking that I might get a fitbit to tide me over to the Apple Watch 2. But lack of healthkit integration is a dealbreaker for me.

I'm waiting for Basis Peak (4 day battery, waterproof, high contrast display, HR). It looks like something Intel engineers would have worn in the 70s, but I kinda like that.

 

[spazzcat]

My new Misfit should be here at the end of the week.

 

[Solomani]

as a fitbit customer Im a bit miffed at the healthkit thing. For the life of me I don't know why they aren't onboard.

Did you actually send them Feedback? Did you tell them, as a current FitBit customer, that customers like yourself would like to see HealthKit integration?

Don't just me miffed about it. Send feedback to the company!

 

[samcraig]

It's not an unwise decision on Fitbit's behalf to wait and see. Especially if there is a lot of work to be healthkit "compliant." What if, for example, healthkit doesn't take off. What if it's like ping? I know they are apples and oranges. Point being - Fitbit isn't taking the gamble NOW. That doesn't mean they won't ever.

 

[Sonmi451]

Screw Fitbit. I guess they don't want my money.

 

[spazzcat]

Most here will try to say Apple should be removing them because they don't support Healthkit. However, the fact is very few products are actually supporting Healthkit currently. We all know the real reason is because Apple is coming out with the Apple Watch. But I'm sure this thread will be 100 pages long crapping all over Fitbit for not supporting Healthkit.

It is clear Apple is starting to remove products from the Apple Store that compete with their own products. They did it with Bose and now Fitbit. They certainly have that right. However, pushing away partners that make the iOS ecosystem so strong may not be wise in the long run. You can bet Fitbit is going to start putting more resources into the Android in case Apple does even more to lock them out of iOS.

Bose working with NFL to fine players to that wear Beats, Fitbit isn't supporting something Apple is investing in...

 

[69Mustang]

I'm on board with this. The main Apple area of the store is nice, but the rest of it looks like a bazaar sometimes. They need to get rid of this other junk that isn't built explicitly in a partnership. Fitbit is no better on iOS than on Android, so they shouldn't get this prime real estate ahead of someone else who IS trying to be mutually beneficial.

A lot of people on this forum seem to view this as some sort of punishment for Fitbit not adopting Healthkit. First, Fitbit never said they wouldn't adopt Healthkit. They did say they were taking a wait and see attitude. Considering Apple's most recent software issues, I personally think it's a wise decision. Secondly, none of the other fitness trackers are exclusive to Apple so how are those relationships built explicitly in a partnership?

Only Apple and Fitbit know the reason. Could be Healthkit but I don't see Apple being that petty.

Same with Bose. If they want to actively FINE people for preferring a different brand, even if it's for a cause, then I really am not interested in their products. Same with the whole Samsung "you can't use the phone you prefer at the Olympics" nonsense. Tacky.

I'm going to step out on a limb here. I don't think you actually understand the Bose/NFL deal. It's totally okay. Judging from the past threads, most of MR didn't and still doesn't. Same with the Olympics and Samsung. Not understanding something doesn't make it tacky. It just means you need a better understanding of the subject matter.

Bolded: What does that mean? "... even if it's for a cause..."

 

[balamw]

MOD NOTE: Please keep the thread on topic. If you wish to discuss how this compares with sociopolitical ideologies, please take it to PRSI.

B