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Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

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Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#91

Garmin and Apple have the fitness market covered. Fitbit never had the hardcore fitness market Garmin executed into and Apple has always had a product that works well across the wearable and fitness. Between these two companies I can't imagine there's much of a niche Fitbit does better. On the extreme hardcore triathlon user even Garmin has taken a lot of market from Suunto and the like. I've owned a handful of Garmi…

I have seen a lot more Fitbits then Garmins or Apple Watches. I would argue that the hardcore market, while the most loyal, isn't the largest revenue generator. It's everyone who wants something "smart" without breaking the bank (or tied to iOS).

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#92

Garmin and Apple have the fitness market covered. Fitbit never had the hardcore fitness market Garmin executed into and Apple has always had a product that works well across the wearable and fitness. Between these two companies I can't imagine there's much of a niche Fitbit does better. On the extreme hardcore triathlon user even Garmin has taken a lot of market from Suunto and the like. I've owned a handful of Garmi…

Fibit should fit perfectly into the 99$ market for a zillion people that just want to track steps and sleep cycles.

They’re starting to put some of their data behind a monthly subscription, especially around sleep.

A coworker recommended I look into buying one, but as soon as I saw that I needed to pay $x per month to see data they were already capturing, I immediately passed.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has a long and successful history of acquisitions, as also a long history of lack of direction and headless actions even in their youth days. It's probably just natural for a company with too much money to invest that way.

What long and successful history? The only one that I can think of that was a definite success is Android. Their only notable hardware acquisitions that I can think of were Motorola which was a disaster, Nest which is barely muddling along, and the semi-acquisition of HTC’s hardware team that made the Pixel. While the Pixel may be a great phone, it isn’t taking the world by storm

Doubeclick, Youtube, Waze...

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#94
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has a long and successful history of acquisitions, as also a long history of lack of direction and headless actions even in their youth days. It's probably just natural for a company with too much money to invest that way.

Please point at some of those successful Google acquisitions - the more I think about it the less I can point at anything apart from Android.

YouTube?

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has a long and successful history of acquisitions, as also a long history of lack of direction and headless actions even in their youth days. It's probably just natural for a company with too much money to invest that way.

What long and successful history? The only one that I can think of that was a definite success is Android. Their only notable hardware acquisitions that I can think of were Motorola which was a disaster, Nest which is barely muddling along, and the semi-acquisition of HTC’s hardware team that made the Pixel. While the Pixel may be a great phone, it isn’t taking the world by storm

I mean, YouTube is another.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#97
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has a long and successful history of acquisitions, as also a long history of lack of direction and headless actions even in their youth days. It's probably just natural for a company with too much money to invest that way.

Please point at some of those successful Google acquisitions - the more I think about it the less I can point at anything apart from Android.

Double click, Youtube, waze...

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#98
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google has a long and successful history of acquisitions, as also a long history of lack of direction and headless actions even in their youth days. It's probably just natural for a company with too much money to invest that way.

Please point at some of those successful Google acquisitions - the more I think about it the less I can point at anything apart from Android.

Youtube

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#99
post #56

Eventually, all startups will be acquired into the FAANG companies, no matter whatever their "mission statement" is, just like Matryoshka dolls. Pebble -> Fitbit -> Google. I am sure there are more examples.

Once you take VC money, your “mission statement” is meaningless. You no longer have the luxury of being a lifestyle business. You either have to get acquired or statistically unlikely go public.

Re: Google Buys Fitbit for $2.1B

#100
post #62
post #56

Eventually, all startups will be acquired into the FAANG companies, no matter whatever their "mission statement" is, just like Matryoshka dolls. Pebble -> Fitbit -> Google. I am sure there are more examples.

I'm probably just drawing a mental blank here, but what's the 'N' in FAANG? :-S

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